Prayer it turns out is directly linked to faith. Matter of fact it's faith in God that fuels our prayer. A deeper look at prayer would reveal that it strengthens our faith, when we walk by faith and live how God himself has commanded us to live we discover another aspect of our spiritual life that plays a key role; Character. Thats important, very important...why? Because... Character is what determines our conduct. Put another way...People see who we are by the things we hold near and dear to the heart. Also by the habbits we allow into our every day life. Charcter flaws come from a life not dedicated completly to God. Can you be a christian and have a character flaw? Of course! But once you discover what your flaw is... Will you allow it to be a part of the person God is making you to be? Hope not!!! Prayer is so important that it just simply cannot be forsaken. You lose connection with God when you cannot bring yourself to commit your time to him. He won't speak, or rather you won't hear what he has to say because without constant conversation we forget what his voice sounds like. I just came through a season just like this where God has taught me the power and importance of Prayer. I haven't been praying, rather I've been quite lazy in my walk with God. The flesh took over and I would much rather sleep than pray, sleep than read a scripture. It Got so bad that I felt worn out and wasted precious hours of my day doing nothing. Why did this happen? Because I was not commiting my life completely to God. I hadn't surrendured whole heartedly the one thing I have plenty of right now...TIME! God revealed to me one night recently in a dream what my lazyness had braught forth...I was faced with people in turmoil, demon posessed and helplessly distraught naked and rolling around on the floor...I was braught in from outside this cathedral like building, from chest deep water. I was carrying a Cross and struggling to make steps forward. When I got to the building that seemed to be a refuge I looked back and noticed two figures obese in shape following, I lifted the bottom of the cross and hit them with it and they disappeared into the water. I went through the doors of the huge place and there was a red carpet with continuous rows of candles along the route to the stairs that led higher. I remember almost giving up but thinking to myself, if God can do it... I surely can as well, that gave me the strength to follow this priest like figure of a man up the stairs. At the top of the stairs he told me to lay down my cross...surprisingly I found it difficult to do and didn't know how to go 'bout it. I think he said if you want freedom or answers you have to answer question from 1942. At that moment he opened what looked like a newspaper...quite abruptly. So I sat at the table w/ the paper in front of me and noticed the people I referred to in the beginning...One was on his back and all I could see was the lower part of his legs...He was naked and dirty, chanting and shaking, two others that were near him scared for their lives got up and ran past me. I'll cut it off here because this is where I felt as though I was helpless and without strength to handle what was happening...But as I sat there I realized...I don't want to do this alone...I don't want to fight this alone!...I can't do this alone! It was an awakening for me because through prayer God can provide blessings unto us. His presence in our lives provides the strength we need to fight a battle that is very real, and very deadly. Without Gods intervention on our behalf we are helpless...helpless to help ourselves and helpless to help others. Prayer is Powerfull, but only when taken seriously. I urge you wherever you are in your walk with God to discover what kind of Prayer relationship you have with God...Are you putting God first in everything big and small, throughout your entire day? Discover the fire within to advance to new heights in the Kingdom of God. Read, meditate, Pray...Live Strong!
