“Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!”   1 Chronicles 16:11 (NKJV)
Spiritual work is HARD work. Prayer is often arduous. It requires time, concentrated focus, and humility. Prayer is more than mere meditation. Rather, it is the means by which every saint cultivates intimacy with God. To commune is to converse or talk together, usually with profound intensity and intimacy. Often there is an interchange of thoughts or feelings. (http://dictionary.reference.com/)
“Spiritual work is taxing work, and men are loath to do it. Praying, true praying, costs an outlay of serious attention and of time, which flesh and blood do not relish.” ~ E.M. Bounds
 Oswald Chambers suggests in his book Daily Thoughts For Disciples, that prayer develops and nourishes the life of God within us. It advances and feeds us while we move towards spiritual maturity. How? Continual contact with the Father sharpens our spirit and teaches us to focus on matters that concern God. It develops spiritual discernment, increases our love and compassion for the lost, and aides in transforming our minds.
 “For ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16 (NKJV)
 “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind” Ephesians 4:23 (NKJV)
 “Choose to view life through God’s eyes. This will not be easy because it doesn’t come naturally to us. We cannot do this on our own. We have to allow God to elevate our vantage point. Start by reading His Word, the Bible…Pray and ask God to transform your thinking. Let Him do what you cannot. Ask Him to give you an eternal, divine perspective.” ~ Charles Swindoll
 We are called to abide in Christ. This means to remain inseparably linked to Christ in all areas of our life. When the Word of God abides in us, and we have asked God to lead us in prayer according to His will, powerful things will happen in the heavenlies.
Practice entering the throne room of God with praise but also enter into prayer with a motive and intent to listen. If we cannot silence our own thoughts, how will we ever manage to hear HIS voice? While quietly waiting on the Holy Spirit, God will make know His will and purpose and effectively lead us through our time of intercession.
Since prayer brings us into the very presence of God, we can be certain a spiritual battle will ensue. Do not let this discourage you! The enemy would not fight so hard to distract, discourage, or exhaust us if God’s leading was not effective and powerful.
We are to “fight the good fight” and prayer is something we are ALL called to do. It is not just a select few who are “raised up” or gifted to pray. It is every Christian’s privilege! All believers should strive to become prayer warriors. We ought not to put the burdens of the world on only a few shoulders. We must unite and draw close to God as a nation. The sacrifice of time and the energy exerted during intercession will develop our spiritual muscles. Thanks to prayer, we can call upon God’s power and tear down devilish strongholds and the evil schemes of the enemy. We ALL benefit from prayer.   It is my hope that prayer fills your day and blesses many, through the power and leading of Jesus Christ.
Read the quotes and scriptures below and then consider your prayer life. Do you need to make any changes?
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.  Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.” 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 (NKJV)
“Satan dreads nothing but prayer. His one concern is to keep the saints from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, he mocks our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.” ~ Samuel Chadwick
“The Christian should work as if all depended upon him, and pray as if it all depended upon God.” ~ Charles Spurgeon