“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:7-12). Also, read in Matthew 6:5-15.

Our Lord had a defined course in His life. He took it when it came to the essential ingredient of an overcoming live. It was His routine of prayer.

A quick study of His life reveals He was always praying. It has been said Jesus ministered on His way from one prayer meeting to another. That’s quite different from the way many of us pray today.

When we stop and become totally honest about our lives, several types of prayer become evident.

The first is “Snatch and Grab.” This type of prayer is when we catch a moment here, a moment there. The second is “Emergency praying.” This type of prayer says, “God, I am I need.” The third prayer is “Ritual praying,” asking God for blessings.

Any praying is better than no praying. However, for us, the people of God, we must press beyond those surface efforts and develop a prayer life which reaches deep into the heart of God and brings His omnipotent power upon the many pressing needs with which we are confronted.

Prayer on purpose is a disciplined part of our lives. It is something we do. Not to grab hold of God because we are in need, but because we have come to grips with Jesus words in John 15:55, “I am the Vine you are the branches, he who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit for without Me you can do nothing.”

We pray on purpose because we understand “prayer” is the essential ingredient which keeps us in close contact with Jesus….and without Jesus, we don’t have a hope of overcoming.

Prayer on Purpose is….a discipline, not a sporadic effort, organized, taking prayer seriously, and is often time consuming.

So whether you are an early riser who greets the dawn, a mid-day or late-owl praying person, it really doesn’t matter. The essential thing is that prayer on purpose is a mandate according to Acts 6:4.

By devoting ourselves to prayer as did the disciples of that age, we can begin to witness once more the amazing results they witnessed.

In this world of “now,” we must realize God does not move according to “now” standards. We wait and pray on purpose and we shall be rewarded. Please read Isaiah 40, verses 12-14, 21-22, 25-26, 28-31.

To be continued. May God bless all-Bishop Wheeler

By R.J. Wheeler