Prayer is important in the believer’s life. I believe every Christian ought to pray and pray often to a God that hears and answers prayer.

Because we are living in a day and time where this Ole World, "Ain’t No Friend of Grace". Therefore, I need to share with you several things concerning prayer.

First, I want to talk about the three types of prayer: 1) Prayer of Thanksgiving. David says in Psalms 92:1, "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: to shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning and thy faithfulness every night."

Paul follows up in I Thess. 5:18 when he says, "In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you". I know we love to ask God for things but every now and then we need to tell the Lord thank you.

The second type of prayer is: 2) Prayer of Praise. David said in the 150th Psalm, "Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.¿" David goes on to say, "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord." The Lord inhabits the praises of his people. "When praises go up, blessings come down".

The third type of prayer we ought to enter into is: 3) Intercessory prayer. Pray the prayer of faith on behalf of others. James says, "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." ­ James 5:15

When Jesus prayed in John 17: 9a, 20 he didn’t pray for himself only but Jesus prayed, "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word". As Jesus interceded for us, let us intercede for one another in prayer just as Jesus has instructed us.

Since you’re going to pray, and that is wonderful, then it only makes sense that when you pray: 1) Make Connection. Jesus is on the main line but you need to make connection if you’re going to tell him what you want. Then, after you make connection you need: 2) A Clear Line. When you pray, look to Jesus with a clear mind, a clean heart, and a contrite spirit. Get the static off of the line of your mind, so you can connect to Jesus clearly.

Not only should we Make Connection and have a Clear Line but we need to: 3) Establish Open Communication with the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. Be sincere, avoid vain repetition, and pray in a Godly manner. Then when it is all said and done, finally, when you pray: 4) Stop and Listen. James 1:19 says, "wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:" so, Stop and Listen to what the spirit of the Lord has to say.

Remember, big prayer = big power; little prayer = little power; no prayer = no power. Therefore, "...Men (women, boys, and girls) ought always to pray and not faint".