Dr. Gough:

God's people give themselves to praise and prayer.

--The Prophet Jeremiah is an example of this grace.

--His name means "God will lift up," and God does.

--He was born a pries (1:1); called to preach (1:6).

--When disrespected he wanted to resign (20:9).

--God told him to keep preaching and praying, "Call to Me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things" (33:3). God is calling us, also.

Jeremiah risked his life to warn Israel of captivity.

--The nation would not heed. Cast him in prison.

--They kept on wicked ways, ignoring the Lord God.

--So Jerusalem fell, and its Temple; people deported.

--Not that prayer failed; they failed to truly pray.

"I don't believe in prayer anymore," a lady told me, "since God let my daughter die!" She was upset.

--The Lord had not answered her prayers as desired.

--I felt for her, and all those who feel that way.

--It gave me opportunity to comfort, and to counsel.

--God hears prayers, and answers, even if it hurts.

--So we should always pray for God's will, not ours.

--She listened to the Word of God, her attitude mellowed, and she began to understand and accept.

--We often visited; I was welcome to pray with her.

As children we never got from parents all our wants.

--Because our parents knew what was best for kids.

--So does our loving Heavenly Father for our prayers.

--You see God loves our loved ones more than we do!

--He says, "Call to Me .. I will answer you," not always as we pray, unless we pray "in God's will."

Those "born again" desire God's will more than ours.

--He pleads for prayer, "If My people will humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways, seek .. I will hear .. forgive .. and heal their land" (II Chronicle 7:14). God calls our nation, today!

--Jesus said, "I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail" (Luke 22:32). Let's join Jesus.

--Prayer is meant as a way of life, not now and then.

--"We will give ourselves .. to prayer .." (Acts 6:4).

I. WE ALL NEED TO PRAY, BUT WHAT IS PRAYER?

--It is not a magic wand, to get what we want - but a humble, reverent request, to get what God wants.

--It is simply talking to God, as our Heavenly Father, honoring Him in love and praise, and telling Him what is on our heart as we seek what is on His.

--God's ways "are higher than our ways," for He sees the end from the beginning, and knows what's best.

--Talk to the Lord, as youo would a loved one.

It helps to know the Lord Jesus as our Savior, to be living close to Him; but God hears anyone.

--God even hears sinners - kneeling not necessary!

We ought to begin and end the day in prayer, and any time in between; with acceptance and access 24/7.

--I believe we can do nothing better than pray, and after we pray, we can do everything better!

If trouble drives you to prayer, if we look.

--God says, "Praying always" for all things, (Ephesians 6:18) Dozens and dozens of such requests.

--"Pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17).

--"Continue in prayer" (Colossians 4:12)

--Jesus said, "Watch .. and pray always" (Luke 21:36)

--Men and women of the Bible, and believers through the ages, give themselves to prayer; God blesses!

"Call to Me, I will answer you, and show you great things," (Jeremiah 33:3). What is God telling us?

--He tells us what - simply call, or pray, to Him.

--He tells to Whom - "To Me," the Living, True God.

--He tells us why - "I will answer, and show you.."

--God doesn't say He might answer, "I will answer."

--In His love, a way that is best, we can be sure.

--He will "show great and mighty things we know not."

A Christian editor, James Montgomery, has a hymn"

"Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,

He enters heaven, with prayer.

--God often calls us to prayer for it pays to pray.

II. WHEN SHOULD WE PRAY? AS THE SPIRIT LEADS.

--At certain times, at dawn or sundown, or anytime.

--Jesus often rose early to praise and pray for needs.

--He even spent all night in prayer choosing His Apostles. I pray momentarily .. as the Spirit leads.

The Jews had three set times each day to pray.

--"Evening and morning and at noon I will pray," we read in Psalm 55:17. How often do you pray?

--Jesus said, "Men always ought to pray" (Matthew 18:1).

--In other words prayer is appropriate any time.

--We can pray anywhere. About any, and every thing.

--God works miracles today, as we pray, God's way.

Hudson Taylor missionary to China was obedient to go.

--Because he believed in a prayer-answering God, Who would go before Him, and provide, and protect him.

--He wrote back, "Prayer power has never been tried, to a full capacity. If we want to see mighty wonders wrought in the place of weakness, failure, or disappointment, God says, 'Call to Me, I will answer, and show you great and mighty things.'"

III. HOW SHOULD WE PRAY? PRAY AS JESUS TAUGHT US.

--Jesus is the best Teacher. As the Spirit leads us.

--The disciples asked Jesus, "Teach us to pray."

--Jesus gave them the Lord's Prayer, as a model.

--As we grow, pray in your own words, including praising God, adoration and Thanksgiving, confess sin, and then, thankfully, offer our petitions.

On my desk I have written, "By God's grace, always be ready to pray, preach, or pass away." My motto.

--For Peter prayed, "Lord, save me!" (Matthew 14:30).

--And Jesus did. Lifted him out of water, in a boat.

--Always pray humbly. Reverently. In faith.

--From our heart. With pure motives. In God's will.

Remember Jesus asks us to pray "in Jesus' name."

--"Whatever you ask in My name .. anything in My name" (John 14:13, 14). Jesus is our Advocate!

--Praying in Jesus' name is vital - on His merit not ours, or any others - for His is superior to all.

The best way to remember all people - is in prayer.

On the Cross Jesus spoke seven sentences, four of the seven - or over half - were prayers! A soldier saved.

--Jesus' prayers - and self-sacrifice - changes us.

--Our praying should bring Jesus' presence with us.

IV. WHY SHOULD WE PRAY? THERE ARE MANY GOOD REASONS.

--First, for our good. Good of others. The world.

--We cannot be saved or forgiven, without prayer.

--God's guidance, grace, goodness, come with prayer.

--"We will give ourselves to prayer .. " (Acts 6:4).

--Life is too uncertain, complex, to neglect to pray.

--"Watch and pray, lest you enter temptation" (Mark 14).

Many of our hardships come by insufficient prayers.

--Prisons are full of those who neglected to pray.

We should pray because God asks us to - He instructs and even commands us - to "pray always" (Ephesians 6:18)

--"I should sin against the Lord, in ceasing to pray.

--Prayer is one way we can all imitate Jesus Christ.

Also we should pray, because our world sure needs it.

--Without some prayer, no one is saved or forgiven.

--The more believers intercede for God's Spiritual Awakening over the world, the more peace, godliness, and wisdom God will give us; and, world leaders!

--God says, "..prayers, intercessions, and thanks be made for all men, for kings, all in authority, that we may lead a quiet, peaceable life" (I Timothy 2).

V. WILL ALL OUR PRAYERS BE ANSWERED AS WE PRAY?

--No, not as we pray - unless we pray for God's will.

--Paul's prayers healed others, but "not his thorn."

--One prayer God answers, always, instantly is "Lord, save me." Have you, friend, prayed that prayer?

--It should be the beginning of all our praying.

--"Call to Me," God says.

Wilbert D. Gough, ThD., DD. 67