Remaining in Prayer

It has been two weeks since Prayer Week; lives have picked up with unrelenting schedules again and summer vacations have begun. How do we stay connected to our Heavenly Father when life doesn't stop?

Here are three quick encouragements to stay connected with the Father every day:

1. We pray because when we don't, we waste our time and efforts. Jesus tells us in John 15:5 that when we abide, we bear fruit, but apart from Him we can do nothing. If we are not staying connected to the Father, all of our self-effort will be fruitless. That means that all of our time is wasted if we are not abiding.
2. We pray because when we pray, God answers prayer and is glorified. John 15:7-8 says that when we abide in Him, we can, "ask whatever [we] wish, and it will be done for [us]. By this [the] Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." It is in asking that we are able to bear much fruit and God is glorified. As God's people, our greatest joy comes from being in His presence and seeing Him glorified. Through prayer we get to do both of those things.
3. We pray because we are Jesus' friends and can hear from Him. We don't pray because we are required to or because we merely want to air our list of requests and complaints to God, but because, like any friend, we want to talk with Him. John 15:15 says, "but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." When we pray and listen, God will not only answer our requests, but will speak to us as well. May we all be friends of God through prayer.

For more on prayer and hearing from God, download June's free audiobook, "Hearing God" by Dallas Willard, from ChristianAudio. Or listen to the sermon on John 15:1-17.