What is prayer? Prayer is bringing our requests to God, expecting Him to answer. Many things come against us when we try to pray.

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1 Luke 18:1-17 What is prayer? Prayer is bringing our requests to God, expecting Him to answer Simple, right? So what is the problem? Why is something that should be as natural as breathing so difficult to actually do? Many things come against us when we try to pray. The enemy knows the power of prayer, doesn't want us to pray, and tries to keep us from it. We often don't feel like praying, and give up too soon. We are distracted by everything else around us. We want to see if we can figure out things on our own. Prayer is often the last resort, which makes it even harder if we do not have an ongoing connection with God in prayer. Sadly, we are often children who tend to forget the Father s love and devotion to our well-being. I don t know about you, but sometimes I can be: A Distracted child A Busy child A willful child A Guilt-ridden child A Sad child A Broken child A Fearful child An Oppressed child Throughout this summer think I was each child. I'd finished writing this study, turned it into the media department, and thought: yay! I m done with the hard part.

2 Then a spiritual cloud came over me. I became anxious and depressed. Many lies plagued me each day. I had to cling to the truth of the Word of God in spite of confusing emotions, trust what I knew to be true about Him, and hang on to His leg for dear life. It seemed as though God allowed me to be tested on every point I wrote about. I could relate to Jacob in the wilderness, Moses with all his insecurities, Joshua with all his fears, Elijah running from his enemy, Gideon, unsure of his identity, Hannah in great emotional turmoil, David, missing his times in the pasture, and Jesus feeling alone in the garden. I literally did not feel qualified to speak on prayer. After all, shouldn't the person who wrote about all the wonderful acts of God in scripture be riding on the wings of angels singing worship songs all day with great joy? Shouldn't she be a shining example of the one who has life figured out, and can confidently stand against all opposition with a smile? Not this girl. Yet through the prayers of some dear sisters in Christ I ve remembered a few things: It isn't failure to be weak None of us can do it alone. We need the prayers of the body of Christ. Choosing to pray in faith during difficult times is real life for most of us Jesus said apart from Me you can do nothing, so it is His plan to bring us to a place where all we can do is cling to the vine. Jesus is enough to stand on. He qualifies us - not the display of wonderful emotions or the ability to speak eloquently or the absence of human frailty. Many things may have clouded the truth for each of us. We may not accurately perceive Gods character, his power, and his goodness. So how does a woman who feels like prayer is a big mountain she cannot climb, begin to pray? Our text in Luke 18 says: We come as children.

3 God hears the humble. He answers persistent prayer. A woman of prayer is not necessarily a spiritual giant. She is simply needy. She comes desperately wanting what only her father can give, and counts on his promises in spite of her circumstances. She admits her helplessness to do anything for herself. She chooses to trust His ability and desire to meet every need. Her confidence is based on His word. She learns through scripture the truth of her Fathers love and total acceptance of her through his son: Romans 5:1-2 in the amplified version says: Therefore, since we are justified - acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God - through faith, let us grasp the fact that we have the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy, peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed one. Through Him also we have our access, entrance, introduction, by faith into this grace -state of Gods favor - in which we firmly and safely stand. And let's us rejoice and exalt in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God. Jesus stands before the Father praying on her behalf. Sometimes all she can do is run to Jesus and allow him to wrap his arms around her. She doesn't look at her own failures and inadequacies; she comes just as she is, allowing his righteousness to wash over her. She believes she has his full attention and trusts that, as he listens, answers are beginning to formulate. He is making things right within her and around her.

4 Not only does God desire to meet her every need, he longs for complete restoration and an ongoing relationship with her. He wants her to learn how faithful he will be throughout her life. During this time something Devine happens. Her anxieties are transferred into the hand that moves the universe with all power and authority. Colossians 4:2 in the Amplified version says "Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer life, being both alert and intent in your praying with thanksgiving. " Without prayer, we don't recognize the hand of God or experience His tender personal care. We don't gain victory over the evil one and the darkness in this world. God created prayer as a gift. It's his design. He wants us to notice his involvement in our lives. He fully intends for us to bring every concern to him and waits until we do so. His answers strengthen our bond of trust in him. Prayer isn't just something to tag on at the end of the day or mumble before meals. Prayer isn't optional like dessert or an elective college course or a scarf. We don't take it or leave it depending on how we are feeling. It is as essential to the spiritual life as water and food are to the physical life. It is our lifeline to the Creator who invites us into his personal presence. A person of prayer carries a certain scent that s hard to explain. It s sort of like finding the words to describe the smell of a gardenia. Beauty seems to have found a resting place in their souls, and we are drawn to them. They appear more confident, more serene; more assured of something beyond the hereand-now. People like Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Elijah, Hannah, Samuel and David, understood the power of talking to God and allowing time for Him to respond. We will see their struggles, their sorrows, and their joys when they saw God move on their behalf. The next eight weeks of closely observing their personal walk with God through prayer just might give us a better understanding of our own. Their

5 lives show us that, although prayer isn t easy, it is worth every effort. That the benefits of prayer far outweigh the difficulties to get to the prayer closet. Because this same God, who listened and answered them, is right here for us also. The Lord longs to be gracious to you. He waits on high to have compassion on you. Isaiah 30:18