Making the Connection

God’s idea of prayer is not a ritual, but loving and lively communication between the best of friends. But sad to say, most people think they can’t talk to God like that. Some think they’re not religious enough, not righteous enough, or not spiritual enough.

Some think He’s too big—too far above them. Some think He’s too busy to be concerned about them and their problems, which they think must seem awfully petty to Him. Some feel unworthy, not good enough. Some feel guilty or ashamed about things they’ve done. Some are even afraid of Him. If only they understood how differently God sees it!

God wants to have a personal relationship with each of us, and He wants it to be the deepest, most meaningful, most fulfilling and rewarding, most natural part of our lives. Now that’s not to say He wants to take away from the other relationships and activities that we enjoy and consider important. To the contrary—He wants to be a part of all that. He wants to make our day-to-day living easier, He wants to give the things we experience greater meaning, and He wants to enjoy them with us. In a word, He wants to make our lives better. He wants to add a wonderful new dimension to all that we do—the dimension of His loving presence.

How do we establish such a relationship, especially when we feel small and unspiritual and unworthy? How do we make that connection? Simple: through His Son, Jesus!

None of us can really grasp how great and wonderful God our Father is, because He and His Spirit are greater than the whole universe. He’s so beyond our comprehension that He had to send us someone who could show us His love, someone we could experience, someone who could bring God down to the level of our limited human understanding. So He sent His Son, Jesus.

Jesus lived for 33 years on earth in human form and experienced the joy and sorrows that we as humans experience.¹ Jesus has been here, so He can understand us and be the link between us and God.²

We can get personal with Jesus. He even told us to ask Him into our hearts: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”³

He’s the one we can have direct, personal contact with. He is the one we can approach God through.

If you have prayed to receive Jesus as your Savior, you already have that connection. If not, you can make it right now by sincerely praying a simple prayer like the following:

Dear Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God. I now open the door of my heart and ask You to please come into my life and give me Your free gift of eternal life. Amen.

The story is told of a certain minister who was disturbed to see a shabbily dressed old man go into his church at noon every day and come out again after a few minutes. What could he be doing? He informed the caretaker and asked him to question the old man. After all, the place contained valuable furnishings.

“I go to pray,” the old man said in reply to the caretaker’s questioning.

“Come, come now,” said the other, “you are never long enough in the church to pray.”

“Well, you see,” the old man went on, “I don’t know how to pray a long prayer, but every day at twelve o’clock I just come and say, ‘Jesus, it’s Jim.’ I wait a minute and then come away. Even though it’s just a little prayer, I think He hears me.”

When Jim was injured some time later and taken to the hospital, he had a wonderful influence on the ward. Grumbling patients became cheerful, and often the ward would ring with laughter.

“Well, Jim,” said a nurse to him one day, “the men say you are responsible for this change in the ward. They say you are always happy.”

“Aye, that I am. I can’t help being happy. You see, it’s my visitor. Every day he makes me happy.”

“Your visitor?” The nurse was puzzled. She had noticed that Jim’s chair was always empty during visiting hours, for he was a lonely man, with no relatives.

“Your visitor? But when does he come?”

“Every day,” Jim replied, with a light in his eye. “Yes, every day at twelve o’clock He comes and stands at the foot of my bed. I see Him and He smiles and says, ‘Jim, it’s Jesus.’”

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Prayer opens a channel from our emptiness to God’s fullness. It’s the connecting link between human needs and divine resources.

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You must learn to make personal contact with the power of God, to let Him do the work of bringing you joy, health, and happiness.—D.B.B.

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No man or woman accomplishes so much with so little expenditure of time as when he or she is praying.

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Prayer is so simple.
It is like quietly opening a door
And slipping into the very presence of God,
There in the stillness
To listen for His voice.
Perhaps to petition
Or only to listen,
It matters not;
Just to be there,
In His presence,
Is prayer!

1. John 1:1–3,14; Hebrews 4:15  

2. 1 Timothy 2:5

3. Revelation 3:20

How Prayer Benefits You

There are many benefits to spending time with the Lord and you really can’t afford not to! He can help you solve every problem, answer your every question, heal all your heartaches, comfort you when you’re sorrowful, give you joy, and bring you closer to heaven. The list is endless.

Prayer changes things! It’s one means by which God gives His children what they need or want, as long as it’s good for them and others. “Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”¹

You will be made stronger in spirit. Time spent in quiet reflection and listening builds inner strength that will get you through life’s toughest times. “In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.”²

You will find rest and renewal when your spirit is sagging and your mind is troubled. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”³

You will have a more positive outlook on life, because you will be better able to see things through the eyes of faith. Once you have committed a matter to God in prayer, you can then have the assurance that He will take care of it in accordance with His will. That helps you fight against worry and view things more optimistically. “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God.”⁴ “We walk by faith, not by sight.”⁵

You will find comfort in times of sadness and grief, reassurance when you’re down and out, and courage to go on when you think you can’t. Jesus will help you see your troubles in proper perspective, as He sees them, and give you peace of mind. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”⁶ “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.”⁷

As you receive and apply the things the Lord shows you, you will become wiser. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”⁸

Jesus will guide you through the maze of life. He will help you know what to do when you face problems and tough decisions. He has promised to instruct you, establish your thoughts, and guide your steps. “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”⁹ “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.”¹⁰

He will inspire you with good ideas. “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”¹¹ Jesus will prevent some problems from happening by warning you in advance, and give you solutions to others. “Whoever listens to Me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.”¹²

You can be healed physically. “The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.”¹³

You can be forgiven for wrongdoing. “I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.”¹⁴

You will gain insight into the natural world as well as the spiritual realm. “As it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.’”¹⁵

Prayer draws on the power of God, so you will be able to accomplish more, and do so more easily. “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”¹⁶

You will have greater peace of mind. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”¹⁷

You can claim God’s supply of your material needs. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”¹⁸

Jesus will open to you the treasures of His Word if you will pray, as King David did: “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.”¹⁹

You can get the Lord’s help even when you don’t know what to ask for. “The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”²⁰

A few days after our seven-year-old son, Peter, prayed for a large-print Bible, I went to price one at a Christian bookstore that carries English Bibles. The cheapest one was way out of our price range.  explained Peter’s prayer request to the shop owner, and asked if he might be able to give me a special discount on a large-print Bible, considering the circumstances and that we were volunteer missionaries. I had scarcely finished my question when the shopkeeper started into a story that at first seemed to have no connection.

Seven years earlier, a blind woman had been miraculously healed in answer to prayer. Out of gratitude to the Lord, she had given the shopkeeper $500 to hold in a sort of trust fund. Then she had instructed him that if anyone ever came to his shop and asked for a Bible, but was unable to pay for it, he was to “charge it to her account.” With that, he pointed to the shelf and told me to pick the Bible I wanted.

We never met the woman who bought Peter his Bible, but what a lesson we learned from her: a truly thankful heart looks for a way to share its blessings with others.—P.A., Japan

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One day I visited a small, poor school to give an inspirational video presentation. When I arrived, they were in the middle of a power failure. I offered to pray for the problem to be found and fixed, and ten minutes later the power came on.

The children all came in for the video, but their video player was old and didn’t work properly, no matter how much we tried to adjust it. We decided to ask all the students, teachers, and staff—Muslims, Hindus and Christians alike—to pray with us that Jesus would fix the machine. Immediately after praying, everything began to work properly. They were all thrilled! Not only were they able to see the videos, but they were amazed to see the Lord answer prayer in such a specific way. Afterwards, some of the staff said, “We want to know more about God and His power to work such miracles!”—R.H., Pakistan

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On wings of prayer our burdens take flight
And our load of care becomes bearably light
And our heavy hearts are lifted above
To be healed by the balm of God’s wonderful love!
And the tears in our eyes are dried by the hands
Of a loving Father who understands
All of our problems, our fears and despair,
When we take them to Him on the wings of prayer.

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An African Christian in a remote village moaned and tossed as his fever raged higher and higher. The missionary doctor who was helping to care for the boy did what he could to bring the fever down, but what he really needed was an ice pack. He quickly dismissed the thought. The nearest ice was a difficult day’s journey away.

 “Cannot God send ice for my dear son?” the sick boy’s mother asked. Then she reminded the missionary of what he had said in one of his sermons—that God delights in doing miracles for His children.

 “That’s true,” said the missionary. “But ice?—Here?”

Paying no attention to his doubts, the mother asked again matter-of-factly, “Shall we not pray?”

And so they did. The missionary prayed a vague and general prayer, but then the boy’s mother got right to the point: “Lord, if ice is necessary to my son’s healing, You can send it. I believe it!”

No sooner had she ended her prayer than a hailstone the size of a walnut rolled into the hut. When the two looked out, they saw hailstones plummeting from the sky.

 “God has answered in His own wonderful way!” the mother exclaimed.

The hailstorm was local, and did not damage the village’s crops. The son recovered completely. News of the miracle spread to neighboring villages, and increased the faith of everyone who heard it.—And the missionary was reminded that God answers “impossible” prayers.

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A couple whom we are friends with had been trying to have a child, without success. About a year ago, the wife asked us to pray for her. Two weeks later she was pregnant, and a few weeks after that she found out she was going to have twins!

Word got around, and other childless couples started asking us to pray for them. So far, four more couples are expecting babies—including a second set of twins!—D.G., Thailand

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A Persian fable says: One day
A wanderer found a lump of clay
So redolent of sweet perfume,
Its odors scented all the room.
“What are thou?” was his quick demand,
“Art thou some gem from Samarkand,
Or spikenard in this rude disguise,
Or other costly merchandise?”
“Nay: I am but a lump of clay.”
“Then whence this wondrous perfume—say!”
“Friend, if the secret I disclose,
I have been dwelling with the rose.”
Dear Lord, abide with us, that we
May draw our perfume fresh from Thee.

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Man’s greatest power lies in the power of prayer.

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A Chinese Christian was once asked to give to a fund that would be spent on sacrifices to idols, as fire insurance on his house. He declined on the grounds that he trusted in the living God, not idols, to protect him from fire.

The same night that the sacrifices were offered, fire broke out in the street where the Chinese Christian’s home was. Over 120 houses were burned down. As the flames were coming nearer and nearer to his house, his neighbors told him to save his furniture, but he refused. Instead, he prayed in a voice loud enough for all to hear, “Dear God—the one true God—prove Your existence and power by sparing my house from this fire.”

Nearer and nearer the fire came, until only one house was left between his and the flames. Suddenly the wind changed direction, and his house was saved.

1. Matthew 21:22

2. Psalm 138:3

3. Matthew 11:28–30

4. Romans 8:28

5. 2 Corinthians 5:7

6. Psalm 147:3

7. Psalm 94:19

8. James 1:5

9. Proverbs 3:6

10. Isaiah 30:21

11. Jeremiah 33:3

12. Proverbs 1:33

13. James 5:15

14. Psalm 32:5

15. 1 Corinthians 2:9–10

16. Isaiah 40:29,31

17. Philippians 4:6–7

18. Matthew 7:7–8

19. Psalm 119:18

20. Romans 8:26

Prayer Is Communication

Like any deep and lasting friendship, your relationship with Jesus will be strengthened by frequent, honest, open communication. That’s really what prayer is all about: communicating heart-to-heart with the Lord.

But just how do you communicate with the Lord? Believe it or not, it’s quite simple.

To get started, try sitting down in a quiet spot and picture Jesus there next to you. Then talk to Him just like you would to a good friend. You can talk to Him aloud or in your mind. The exact words you say aren’t what matter—just tell Him what’s on your heart.

Actually, you can pray anywhere, at anytime. You don’t have to be either sitting or standing. You don’t have to be in a church, a religious building, or any special place. Prayer connects your heart with God’s heart, regardless of your surroundings.

Many people associate prayer with asking God for things. But that’s only a part of prayer. Of course He wants you to tell Him your needs, but He also wants you to just spend time with Him telling Him about how things are going in your life. Tell the Lord that you love Him and how thankful you are for all the good things He sends your way. Tell Him all about your dreams and desires, problems and questions, and He will give you strength, inspiration, reassurance, and the answers you need.

Jesus is at your beck and call—just a prayer away—and He’s always happy to lend an ear and a helping hand. He’s interested in you and what you’re going through, and He’s happy to hear and answer your requests.

But there’s more to prayer than that.

Jesus also wants to communicate with you, to talk to you. He wants to tell you words of love and encouragement, and He wants to help you with your problems. He has all the answers, if you will listen. You can learn to recognize His voice when He speaks to your spirit and puts thoughts in your mind.

Jesus will also speak to you through His written Word, the Bible, but to get the most out of it, pray and listen to Him as you read. Then He can reveal how what you’re reading applies to you and today’s world. He will often fill in gaps and provide added detail to the often rather general answers in His Word. But again, the key is listening.

Whether it’s your turn to listen or your turn to talk, you can communicate with the Lord at the speed of thought! It’s not like communicating by letter, where you write to someone via the postal system and then have to wait days or weeks to receive their reply.—Or even like sending email via the Internet, where you can get an answer back from the other side of the world in minutes. Your prayers actually reach His ear before they leave your mouth,¹ and you can get immediate answers. He may not always be able to give you a complete answer or bring about the final result you desire right away, but at the least He will tell you that He’s heard your prayer and He’s working on it. That assurance alone can give you peace of mind and help problems that seem like mountains melt away.And as you later bring the matter again in prayer before Him, He will continue to work on your behalf and show you what you can do to help work His will in the matter and bring it to a good conclusion.²

1. Isaiah 65:24

2. For more on receiving God’s specific answers to your questions, don’t miss Hearing from Heaven in the Get Activated series.

How Prayer Benefits Others

Your prayers can not only change things for yourself, but they can significantly improve the lives of others. It has been said that praying for others is not the least you can do for them, but the most. Your prayers move the heart and hand of God to take action on their behalf.

Through your prayers others can receive most of the same benefits that you receive when you pray for the same things for yourself—including comfort, protection, freedom from anxiety and fear, healing, material supply, and more.

Because you pray you are also in a better position to help others directly. The Lord often uses people as His agents on earth, so it could very well be that He wants to use you to help bring about the answers to your own prayers. The very fact you pray for others shows that you’re concerned about their happiness and well-being, and this puts you in a position to better understand His loving plan for their lives and how you can help bring it to pass. When you pray for someone who is sick, for example, He may show you how you can help stir their slumbering faith and then He might heal them as a testimony to them and others of His miracle-working power, and to cause their relationship with Him to blossom.

When you spend time with the Lord in prayer, He fills you with the fruits of the Spirit, which include love, joy, peace, longsuffering, temperance, faith, gentleness, meekness, and goodness.¹ As you receive more of His Spirit, others will see the Lord and His gifts reflected in your everyday life. “We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”²

Many years ago, a little backwoods town in the U.S. northeast seemed to have more than its share of problems—and problem people.

One night a few Christian friends were talking, when one of them said, “We may not be trained pastors or evangelists, but something must be done in this town. Let’s form a prayer group. We can start by all praying for one person. Who shall it be?”

They picked one of the hardest men in town, a hopeless drunk, and all concentrated their prayers on him. He received Jesus as his Savior that same week, and became a changed man. Then they concentrated their prayers on another man, and he was also converted. Then they prayed for another and another, until within a year, hundreds of people had found Jesus. The town was transformed!

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How lovely are the faces of
The ones who talk with God—
Lit with an inner sureness of
The path their feet have trod;

 

How gentle is the manner of
The one who walks with Him!
No strength can overcome him, and
No cloud his courage dim.

 

Keen are the hands and feet—ah, yes—
Of those who wait His will,
And clear as crystal mirrors are
The hearts His love can fill.

 

Some lives are drear from doubt and fear
While others merely plod;
But lovely faces mark all those
Who walk and talk with God.

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One night in April 1912, a woman tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She was suddenly very worried about her husband who was then in mid-Atlantic, homeward bound on the Titanic. For several hours she prayed earnestly for him. At about five o’clock, a great peace came over her, and she finally fell asleep.

Meanwhile her husband, Colonel Gracie, was among the men who were trying frantically to launch the lifeboats from the great ship that had struck an iceberg and was sinking fast. He had given up all hope of being saved himself, and was doing his best to help the women and children. He wished that he could get a last message through to his wife, and cried from his heart, “Goodbye, my darling!”

As the ship plunged toward the ocean floor, he was sucked down in the giant whirlpool. Instinctively he began to swim under water, ice- cold as it was, crying in his heart, Goodbye, my darling, until we meet again!

Suddenly he came to the surface and found himself near an overturned lifeboat. He and several others climbed aboard, and they were picked up the next morning by a rescue boat.

After Colonel Gracie made it home, he and his wife exchanged their stories and soon realized that she had been praying for him when he had been in the greatest danger. Not only that, but according to the time at home, he had been rescued at five in the morning—the exact time that the Lord had assured his wife he was going to be okay!

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Intercession

Say not I do not understand the fierceness of your fight,
For I was with you many times in the darkness of your night.
Though you were many miles away and we were years apart,
I felt oft-times your agony, the pain within your heart.

 

Say not you fought the battle grim in darkness all alone,
For I was with you there in prayer, stood by you at the Throne.
With shield of faith and Spirit’s sword, I answered at His Word,
And came to battle by your side when first your call I heard.

 

Say not, “’Tis fantasy that one should hear such distant cry.”
For we are one in Him we love; His Spirit draws us nigh.
And oft He whispers to my heart the call to quickly pray.
So I have reached you there in prayer, though you are far away.

—Virginia Brandt Berg

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We give to others in their need
No greater love and care,
Than when we give them to the Lord,
Surrounding them with prayer.

1. Galatians 5:22–23 KJV

2. 2 Corinthians 3:18