When one understands that God's marvelous plan for the population of heaven, that his name may be glorified, such a person can turn his attention to the fulfillment of his spiritual desires here in this world and have a life of peace and delight in the midst of the trials and temptations.  In this world, we are going to have tribulations; the storms of life are going to come, but we must not make the mistake of forsaking the proper guidelines for the journey of life.

     The most important lesson that we must learn is the power of prayer.  Although Jesus was God in a fleshly body, he spent many hours in prayer.  He had all power given unto him (see John 17:2 and Matthew 28:18); yet prayed to the Father that he might have the strength in his earthly body to do what he came to do.  In the Gethsemane experience, after he had prayed, an angel came and ministered unto him (Luke 22:43) strengthening him.  He was made with the same qualities in his manhood as we are.  That is the reason for his praying.  He knew that his Father always heard his prayers (see John 11:42) and understood that his Father knew every need; yet he failed not in asking.  We would do well to learn this great fact as we endeavor to travel the highway of life.  Paul instructed the church at Thessalonica to pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17.) This does not mean to walk about praying audibly every minute of every day, but to be continually in the attitude of prayer, to make our requests, as well as our thanks, known to God.  I truly believe that if we would storm the very gates of heaven with our prayers that America would soon turn away from much of its sinning.

     So many seem to not know how to pray.  Jesus gave us the example to follow in what is commonly known as "The Lord's Prayer," first recorded in Matthew 6:9-13.  We would do well to study it closely, then begin to practice praying ourselves.  A good place to begin is at the dining table, thanking the Lord for our food and all the natural blessings that we enjoy, then gradually presenting our petitions to him as we receive the grace he has promised when we begin to call upon him.  He knows the desires of our heart, but we have been told to ask, to knock, to seek.  We may feel so unworthy, so insignificant and have such awe that we fear to approach the throne, but the apostle urges us to have:

          "boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:19-22.)

     God never sleeps; his ear is never heavy; he is always alert to our every cry.  "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." (Isaiah 65:24.)

     Because of our humanistic nature, we have a tendency to try to "make it by ourselves"; we do not want to call upon the Lord to help, except in a case of last resort.  This is not the way of discipleship.  When we do not acknowledge him in all of our ways, he leaves us to our own devices and due to the fact that: . . . it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jeremiah 10:23), we usually end up in the way that seems right unto man -- the ways of death. (See-Proverbs 16:25.) Here again, the parable of the prodigal son comes into view.  The son said: "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee." (Luke 16:18.) This is the approach we must make when we have strayed from his presence and wasted our substance; however, it is a painful experience to have to go confessing our sins, but it is the only way of true discipleship.  The alternative is the better way: Approach God everyday with thanksgiving in prayer, and we will be continually reminded every time we pray that he is our King.  He is able to keep us from falling (see Jude 24), and will do so if we petition him properly.  Prayer is a continuing necessity if one is to be a successful disciple.  It will need to continue until we are set free from the body of this death; until the glory morning breaks and the shadows flee away for those that remain unto his coming.