Lord Teach Us To Pray

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive" (Matthew 21:22).

All too often we have heard people preach and teach that all that is involved in effective prayer is that we believe (have faith in) God. His promises are true, and when we truly exercise faith, we have what we ask.

This, I believe, is only half truth! Yes, Jesus did focus much of his ministry on teaching about faith, but equally present in His ministry is the requirement and example of charity (giving).

In the infamous "Lord's Prayer," Jesus said that when we pray we must understand that we receive as we are willing to give! "...forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors...." The apostle Paul said that we receive from the Lord so that we may be able to give to others (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:4).

Effective prayer is not focused on MY needs alone! Effective prayer seeks from the Lord with a willingness--evan an eagerness--to give to others. As someone has said, "...with one hand [prayer] reaches up to heaven with the other down to earth; in it, faith prepares to receive, what charity is ready to dispense."

Effective prayer=Faith+Charity!