Prayer

Today, I am, again, made to realize the blessings of prayer.The blessings are too great to describe wholly.  I hope that a few thoughts will stir our minds, though. 
1.  When you are surrounded with troubles, enemies, health problems, sadnesses, guilts, or any other afflictions of the mind or body, it is of the greatest comfort to have spiritual brethren and sisters praying for you.   Many times these intercessory prayers go on without your knowledge of them.  Sometimes you receive a note or text saying "I am praying for you." But, when I do not feel like my prayers are very effectual, I am thankful for the prayers of those who love me.
2.  It is a privilege and a blessing to pray for those I love in the faith, and those who may not be.  The exercise of my faith that comes with constant or regular prayer is very valuable, more so than gold.  The more I pray to my God the better I become at wording my supplications.  The prayers that I see answered in my brethren and sisters' lives only serve to increase my hope and trust in my loving, gracious, Heavenly Father.  We should never be surprised when the prayers are answered, but I usually am.  My flesh is so very weak.  Praying is of great benefit to the ones I am interceding for and for me.  Maybe the greater benefit is for me because the Lord could bless the ones I pray for because of faithful  brethren that are also praying for them or because they asked for themselves.
3.  Prayer is a communication directly with the Lord.  (I do not say that is all it is)  For whatever time I am communicating with my God, I am not communicating with the world.  It is time well spent.  Prayer is NEVER a waste of time.
4.  Prayer is often by direction or prompting of  the Lord.  There have been occasions when I feel impressed to pray for someone and I do not know why.  Later, I find out that the need was great at the time of the prayer.  This is not because I have intuition or prudence but, rather, that the Lord granted me the blessing of following His leadership which mutually benefited of the one I was praying for and me.  

There are many other things to say of prayer.  I encourage you to pray more often.  Mention names (mention my name).  Be specific.  Ask believing.  Ask in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Ask according to His will and be ready, willing and able to bless the Lord if the answer is "No". 

The blessings I have found in and by prayer make me realize that time spent in prayer is time spent drinking from the saucer.