The Door To Everything Good

“When He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.” (Matthew 14:23)

If Jesus needed to pray so often, and by Himself, how can we resist the enemy’s temptations; how can we intercede for others; how can we strengthen our inner man and grow in the Lord without an intentional, often, regular, alone and focused time of communicating with the Lord – speaking and listening.

We should begin our time in prayer with praising God for Who He is; after all He is the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, all loving, and full of mercy and loving kindness. He is Truth, the Way and the Life. He is “Jehovah,” the self-existent One. He is “Rohi,” our Shepherd, Who guides, provides, protects and delivers us. He is “Tsidkenu,” He is all Righteousness and makes us righteous. He is “M’Kaddish,” the One who purifies us and sets us apart. He is “Jireh,” our provider, He is the one who provides all our needs. He is “Ropha,” our healer, spirit, soul and body. He is “Nissa,” our banner of victory, He causes us to triumph in all things in Christ Jesus. He is “Shammah,” the God Who is there, and He will never leave us nor forsake us. There are many more names describing God’s nature and character but these mentioned above are the redemptive names of God.

The Psalmist tells us to “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and praise His name! For the Lord is good. His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting. His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations,” (Psalm 100:4-5). Spend quality time just adoring the Father for His goodness to us, and Jesus for being our Savior, friend and sending the Holy Spirit to be our guide, teacher, comforter and Who gives the fruit of the Spirit: joy, love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal.5:22, 23).

After praising Him for Who He is we should thank Him for what He has done and, in faith, thank Him for answering our future needs, He will show up, listen, speak and act. Wherever praise is happening that is where God will be (Ps.22:3). Whenever you enter His presence with praise and thanksgiving your requests will become shorter and your faith will be exercised and grow stronger, and it causes the enemy of our souls to tremble and leave, it causes our doubts to dissipate, and brings great joy to our hearts.

We must also include confession in our daily prayer. Although the Father already knows how we fail (sin), He wants us to acknowledge that failure and recognize that we have sinned against a holy God. When we confess (agree with Him) that we have sinned, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and will cleanse us from all unrighteousness, (I John 1:9). By confessing our sins daily we can walk in unbroken fellowship with the Father. Confession is like spiritual breathing – we breathe out impurities and sin, we then breath in God’s forgiveness & cleansing. We stand clean and holy before the Father. We may have to go through this confessing and cleansing process many times a day as we recognize we have sinned. We should stay sensitive to the conviction of the Holy Spirit that we have sinned and be quick to confess. It is good to say there is nothing between my soul and the Savior. Walking in peace and joy is a great reward for our confession.

Last of all we bring to the Father our requests for our needs and intercessions for the needs of others. Come in faith, believing that God exists and He is a rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him out (Heb. 11:6). He will answer – sometimes “yes,” sometimes “no,” sometimes “wait.” Whatever His answer, it is the best answer – trust Him (Rom.8:28).

If it makes it easier you can follow this little acrostic: ACTS: A=adoration, C=confession, T=thanksgiving, S=supplication. However you use these suggestions, be faithful in prayer, come in faith believing, focus on the Father, choose a time and place that will be most conducive to communicating with our Savior, the God of creation. Don’t forget to wait to hear the Father’s still small voice (not audibly but in your heart) or through the Word. Peace and assurance will follow. Prayer to the Almighty God opens the door to all of His goodness He is waiting to give us – just pray! Call on Him and He will answer and show you great and mighty things that you do not know. His number is Jer.33:3.

Prayer is the door to everything good!


Sweet Hour of Prayer
William W. Walford

Sweet Hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer, that calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne, make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief my soul has often found relief,
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare by your return, sweet hour of prayer.

Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer, Your wings shall my petition bear
To Him Whose truth and faithfulness engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face, believe His Word, and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care, and wait for you, sweet hour of prayer.