Just as many professing Christians never seem to understand ... or even realize ... the GREAT importance in falling in love with the Word of God AND learning the art of .. and blessings associated with .. giving and asking, many never seem to get a handle on the amazing power .. and necessity .. of prayer AND fasting. As a result, they are destined to live out a mediocre, mundane, frustrated, doom fulfilling cycle of existence that they call "life". However, Jesus said He came to bring us life, and that we might have it more abundantly. So, it only stands to reason that we MUST learn everything we can from the words of Jesus .. as well as His "footprint followers" .. and those to whom He passed the torch after He inaugurated His Church in Acts 2.

Before we go any further I feel pressed to say something: Living for God is NOT ... nor should not ever become ... a part-time endeavor or a drudgery, a burden and a chore -regardless of how long someone's’s face may look, how much grumbling, complaining and criticizing someone may do, or how miserable someone may appear to be. The moment living for God becomes a drudgery, a chore or a burden, you’d look at your carnality meter because it is probably pegged ... at its max. Living for God should be just a way of life! And, aside from the trials and tribulations that anyone who lives godly through Christ Jesus shall suffer, living for God is a much better way of life than that of a transgressor. Likewise, prayer should NOT become a chore which someone finds themselves just going through the motions in order to soothe their conscience. Those who do such will very quickly find that, while they may be putting their "time" in, they are not really reaping the many benefits that genuine prayer is supposed to bring to a person’s life. And, they definite will not be growing, spiritually. In other words, there is a tremendous difference between that of merely "saying" a prayer and that of really "praying" a prayer.

WHAT IS PRAYER?

Prayer is:

1) an expression of our devotion to God;

2) a petition or plea on behalf of some one or some thing;

3) a supplication and release of a burden;

4) a source of strength and direction during the storms of life;

5) a form of worship and praise

6) a personal, private and very direct line of communication with God, and

7) a spiritual vitamin or spiritual food

There are prayers of repentance, praise, worship, pleadings (for intercession), petitions (for help), supplication (for burdens) and prayers of thanksgiving. There are public prayers. And, there are private prayers. Prayers may be audible or silent, and can take place while we are sitting, standing, laying down, driving, doing housework or going about our normal daily routine. We can pray with our heads bowed and eyes closed or with our heads raised and eyes open. We should pray for God’s blessings before we eat food, before any undertaking, the beginning and the ending of every day (and anytime in between), before and after a worship service. We should pray for the sick and afflicted, the lost, the down trodden, lost loved ones and friends, neighbors, co-workers, people we are associated with and come in contact with, strangers we haven’t even met yet and for ourselves that we can be what God wants us to be. We should have a prayer closet ... a private place where we regularly escape to be alone with God, to pour our soul out to Him, and receive our personal strength and guidance. We should make it a practice regularly (preferably every day) to pray until we pray "through", regardless of how long it takes, because praying beyond or "through" the "barrier" of our flesh is when the blessings really flow, and we receive edification. If it has been a while since you have prayed "through", and spoken in tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance for personal edification (1 Corinthians 14:4), let me encourage you to make that a priority in your life IMMEDIATELY!

The Bible tells us in James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Here are some things that come to mind on the spur of the moment that are required for effectual fervent prayer (or "effective prayer") ... Effective prayer requires total belief and unwavering faith, a PURE and REPENTANT (or contrite) heart and spirit, consecration and dedication (sanctification), great reverence and respect, an attentive ear, undivided attention and a made up mind to serve ... and please ... God.

Here are some other interesting things to keep in mind about prayer:

A prayer’s length does not determine its strength. Example: 63 words prayed by Elijah in 1 Kings 18:36-39: And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

God has promised to hear us when we pray according to His Will. 1 John 5:13-15: These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

God is just a prayer away, and NOT far from any of us at any time. Acts 17:22-27: Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

The Spirit of God helps us in "intercessory" prayer (praying "through"). Romans 8:24-26: For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

The following introduction is what we often refer to the "Lord’s Prayer" found in Luke 11:1-2 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven ...............

However, I want to focus attention on Matthew’s version leading up to and following up the "Lord’s Prayer"in Matthew 6:1-21 ... Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

We could talk all day long on this passage of Scripture. But, we’ll move on and allow you to ponder that for a while. I will conclude by saying it should be obvious to everyone that the "Lord’s Prayer" has some very important principles that we must apply in order to follow the example which Jesus gave us to follow.

FASTING Hebrew sum "to cover the mouth". Greek nesteuo "to abstain". According to history, the Pharisees fasted twice each week (the 2nd & 5th day of the week), beginning sometime after the captivity, and was so observed because it was believed that Moses went up on mount for the tablets ... the second time ... on a Thursday (the 5th day of the week) and came back down again on a Monday (the 2nd day of the week). Thus, in the account of the Pharisee and the publican praying in the temple, the Pharisee boasted that he fasted "twice in the week", in Luke 18:12. But, the publican went away justified. However, it wasn’t due to his fasting or righteousness that the publican went away justified. It was due to his humility. And, it was the spiritual arrogance, haughtiness and hypocrisy that the Pharisee went away condemned.

We read above where Jesus rebuked the Pharisees’ fast (in Matthew 6:16) and explained how we are to do it

Jesus did not mandate fasting to become a ritual to be abused like that of the Pharisees. But, He did say His disciples would fast in Matthew 9:14-15 ... Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Prayer and Fasting brings about healing and deliverance and produces the good works of true believers: Matthew 17:18-21 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. [according to the Greek word describing the child’s problem, the child had epilepsy]

Consistent Prayer and Fasting brings an answer from God during hard and trying times:

I Samuel Chapter 1 - The story of Hannah being barren and desiring a man child, and the birth of Samuel.

Fasting to afflict the soul during times of troubles and Sorrow:

1 Samuel 20:34; 31:31; 2 Samuel 1:12

When facing the anger of God:

2 Samuel 12:16; 1 Kings 27

As part of the intercession due to the consequences of sin and disobedience:

Ezra 10:6

To prevent the wrath of God or further punishment ... OR to humble down and gain or re-gain His Divine favor and protection: Esther Chapter 1; Jonah Chapter 3; Judges 20:26; 1 Samuel 7:6; 2 Chronicles 20:3; Joel 1:14; 2:12; Jeremiah 36:9; Ezra 8:21 and Nehemiah 1:4.

Exodus 34:28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

Deuteronomy 9:18 And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

Esther 4:16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

Act 23:12 & 21 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. ....... But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.

There are many accounts of people abstaining from food and drink. However, fasting is a very personal matter, as is prayer. Some people abstain from food, but will drink. Others will abstain from certain kinds of food or drink. Other than not fasting like the Pharisees, and appearing to others to be fasting, Jesus really didn’t give us a definite mandate as to how, when or how often a person should fast ... nor did He regarding what we call "Communion" or "The Lord’s Supper". Paul related how He said as often as we do it, to do it in remembrance of Him (1 Corinthians 11:25). Prayer, on the other hand, is much like going to the dinner table for food to nourish our body ... or like the Children of Israel gathering the manna from Heaven every day except on the Sabbath Day. It is something a Child of God should do daily, and not necessarily just once a day. As a matter of fact, we are admonished to pray without ceasing in 1 Thessalonians 5:7.

As previously stated there different kinds of prayers. To name a few: 1) Repentance. 2) Worship & Praise. 3) Special requests or needs. 4) Thanksgiving. 5) Comfort in sorrow and grief. 6) Direction. 7) A closer walk. May we all come to understand and appreciate the amazing "power" (and necessity) of prayer AND fasting.