Both Jesus and Paul emphasized the importance of prayer, noting that people ought always to pray. Prayer includes asking and getting answers from God. By its nature, prayer is talking with God. It is the basis of the successful Christian life, and is so important that not praying is considered sin (1 Sam 12:23). When we pray, we should follow the model prayer Jesus gave His disciples and address it to our heavenly Father— beginning with adoration, including thanksgiving amd confession of sins, making reconciliation with others, praying for our needs and the needs of others, and concluding in Jesus’ name. ( 6:9-15; John14:14).
Illustration: Jesus pointed out that God heard the prayer of a humble publican rather than that of a proud Pharisee (Luke 18:14).
Application:
God will answer our prayer when we obey Him (1 John 3:22), confess sin ( Ps 66:18), abide in Christ (John 15:7) , ask according to the will of God (1 John 5:14), ask in faith ( Mark 11:24), have pure motives (James 4:3), and live peaceably with our mate ( 1 Pet 3:7)
First Reference, Gen 3:8-13; Primary Refrence, Matt 7:7; cf. 1 John 5:14,15)
