Prayer changes things. A person who spends time with God in prayer will not remain the same person. One cannot consistently and sincerely pray without becoming a better person. As we spend time in God's presence opening ourselves to God's will and God's direction we will inevitably become more like God wants us to be. We will become more Christ-like in our attitudes and our actions. We will find the strength to forgive, the courage to face the future unafraid and the agape love to go the second and third miles in doing for others. This is especially true for those closest to us and conversely those whom we have the greatest difficulty in liking at times.

Even Jesus, the very Son of God knew the absolute necessity of spending time with God in prayer. He never argued the case for prayer. He just spent his life in prayer! For Jesus, prayer was not something to be proved by argument. In his humanness, Jesus had this instinctive tendency to pray. He knew that the divine/human Son of God could not fulfill God's will for his own life without remaining in constant contact with God through prayer.

The Gospel of Mark reveals to us that Jesus began the day in prayer (1:35) and ended each long, demanding day the say way (6:46). When the demands of special occasions confronted Jesus he immediately turned his thoughts toward God - his source of strength (7:34). How can any serious follower of Christ Jesus not realize the same thing that Jesus realized - contact with God is absolutely essential! Praying on a regular basis and in a sincere, disciplined way is absolutely essential if we are to be transformed into the person God intended us to be.

If our prayer life is to be all that it can be there are certain steps in preparation for us to consider. Before petitioning God for anything - even those noble things like the strength to love and to persevere in our Christian living - we need to be sure we have tried to give to God everything he has asked of us. God asks very simply that we love our neighbors and walk humbly with God. Every time we come to God, every time we prepare to commune with God in prayer, every time we invite the glory of God's presence into our hearts we would do well to ask ourselves certain questions: Have I done that which I know to be wrong, presuming that God will somehow overlook it? Have I been guilty of anger, hatred, quarreling or revenge? Have I purposely insulted or ridiculed another child of God? Have I refused to forgive or to speak to someone? Have I repeated gossip? Have I suspected others of wrongs without any real basis for my suspicions? Have I cheated anyone even in a small way? Have I over indulged in food or drink or caused others to do so? Have I been a hypocrit in any way, trying to make others believe I am something I know I am not?

This list of questions could go on and on. For each one of us it will differ in content and in length. It will even differ somewhat each time we pray. Nevertheless an examination of conscience is essential. It will enhance our time with God. It will open us to God's searching love and God's healing power.

May we find God each day, morning, noon and night - just as Jesus found Him. God speed in your prayer life.