Pray, pray and never give up

prayGood Morning everyone.  People are still coming to Christ Jesus each and every day.  Yes, it is easy to let all the bad news occurring all around us to lose heart and hope but those of us who are followers of The Holy One of God need to keep praying.  Let each one of us begin the day with God.  Let us make an appointment with our Father in Heaven and refuse to break it, especially in a day such as this.

As believers, we may often wonder if there is anything we can do to counter the attacks our enemy hurls at us. We might even ask, “Can we, as Christian couples and parents, stand in the gap for our marriages, our children, our homes, our state, our country?” Let me say a resounding, “Yes, we can, and we must stand united in the victory Jesus has secured for us.”

P – Pray

U – Until

S – Something

H – Happens

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gave us, among others, this promise:

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Matthew 7:8 For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.

Every promise which God gives us is attached to a duty.  Concerning any duty it is not enough to do it, it must be done according to the prescribed methodology.

God desires that we should have a clear understanding regarding the certainty of prayer.  Never be afraid of being too earnest.  “Knock.”  Note that this is a repeated statement.  As big as the Bible seems to be, it is actually quite concise; therefore when we see something repeated we really should pay closer attention it than we otherwise might have.

Jesus gave us the model prayer and then on the night that He was betrayed He gave us a strong guarantee regarding the efficacy of prayer.  Some people wind up wondering why their prayers don’t seem to be as effectual as those of some other individuals.  For those who wonder why their own prayers don’t seem to have much of an effect as they should according to promise perhaps this particular blog entry may be of assistance.

Watch in prayer to see what comes.  Foolish folk who knock at the door but then fail to stay till someone comes to provide a response will fail to see the door opened but the desperate soul will tend to persist in knocking and will see an answer.  Some don’t believe in prayer because all they have ever done is to knock and run.

Ask, whom?  Not of angels, not of saints but make your request to the only One who is everywhere present.

Ask, when?  Anytime; some times are better than others.  For most, morning is best.  Daniel prayed three times a day at set times.  George Washington followed the example set by Daniel and would not permit anything to interrupt his prayer times.  He knew to ask of the One who is every when present.

Ask, why?  That is the methodology that God has chosen.  In His economy if we don’t ask, He won’t act.

Ask, How?

a.  Orderly; think about what you are going to ask.  Forget that “prayer language” stuff, because if you don’t actually know what you prayed for how will you know if it has been answered?

b.  Earnestly.

c.  Repeatedly: until you receive an answer.  In your own style – you’re talking to your daddy.  If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your personal Savior then God is not yet your daddy.  Popular foolishness says “We are all children of God,” but that is not backed up by the Holy bible.  First, one has to petition for adoption because we are all, in fact, children of Adam and, as such, alienated from His Kingdom biologically whether we be Jew, Gentile, and especially the Ishmaelite.  He desires that each one of us become a part of His forever family whether we be Jew, Gentile, or Ishamaelite.

d.  In faith.  In the name of Jesus; see John chapter fifteen … that is not a magic phrase – it is a privilege extended to us by the Savior and a recognition of whom it is that has guaranteed our ability to have a right relationship, and communication, with the God of the universe.

To pray is to put the understanding in motion.

To pray is to put the affections in motion; to open the heart.

To pray is to put the will in motion.

Praying is frequently thought of as a passive activity and when it is merely a rote recital of the model prayer or some other one without any real thought or effort put forth that may be an accurate description.  However, when the three above ingredients are all put into the mix it becomes a real work with a special dignity of its own.

Prayer, proper prayer, places the soul face to face with facts of the first order of solemnity; with its real self and with its God.

It is noble, because it is the work of man as man, it quickens the interest of man to that which is beyond the range of petty daily and material interests while enhancing proper interest in them by igniting higher enthusiasms into life, and of man becoming more aware of his being and destiny with a vividness which is necessary to him as no other occupation may.  The nobleness of a man’s best form of toil falls infinitely below that of a spirit which enters consciously into converse with the eternal God.  However that toil, no matter how mundane, may be elevated to an almost sacred level once the work of prayer has consecrated it.

If prayer is to be persevered in, it must be based on the conviction that it is heard by a living being.  If God exists, if He be a Personal Being, then surely we may reach out to Him if we actually want to.  If God be not merely an infinite intelligence, but a moral being, a mighty heart, so that justice and tenderness are attributes of His, then surely we may appeal to Him with some concern that we may have.  It is upon this solid ground that God is said to hear prayer in the Holy Bible.  That He should do so follows from the reality of His nature as the one true God.

The laws of nature are not self-sustained forces; they are God’s laws and God can use His own laws.  They have not escaped His control.

Prayer is a forseen action of man, and is embraced in the eternal purpose of God.

Probably the biggest barrier to effectual prayer is found in a person’s perception of his own self-sufficiency which is frequently demonstrated in the attitude and practice of, “When all else fails, pray.”  No, no … no.  Prayer should be our first resort, not our last.

2nd Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Time to Civilize the Muslims

Inspired by the Draw Muhammad Contest in Garland Texas, where two Muslims tried to gun down the attendants and were killed by the police a new draw Muhammad rally was organized in Phoenix Arizona in front of the same mosque the Garland gunmen used to attend.

Hundreds of bikers attended the May 30, 2015 event, carrying their guns, availing themselves of the 2ndAmendment, in case their 1st Amendment came under attack. Thank you bikers and May God bless you for your boldness; even if you don’t happen to currently believe in Him.

The Muslims attempted to portray themselves as peaceful citizens and they even handed out free bottles of water to the media. One can only wonder, if these Muslims are so friendly and nice, who are those who shoot at the cartoonists, bomb, behead, rape and burn people.  Is it possible that the two from this Mosque were the exception, rather than the rule?  Not likely.

A bit of research shows this Mosques has a history of “radical” attitudes and activities.  Therefore, while they were acting civilized at that moment, you can count on them causing more trouble in the future unless people are prepared to challenge them the next time they start their bullying tactics.

Many people were quick to condemn the Drawing Muhammad contest arguing that it had no other objective than to provoke. They completely missed the point.

Cartoons neither prove nor disprove anything.  So what is the point?  The point is that if we act like cowards and censor ourselves, like after Muslims killed the cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo, we would be submitting to their bullying, which only encourages them to do more and worse.  We send the message that we are afraid of you; that all it takes to make us do your bidding is to kill a few of us and the rest of us will be frightened to death.  Not only we will no longer offend you, we will even attack anyone who dares to.  In this way we would acknowledge that terrorism works and all Muslims have to do to make us comply with their whims is to kill a few of us and we will bend over backwards to appease them and make sure it won’t happen again.

Those who refuse to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.

Whether they are the minority or the majority, the Quran prohibits Muslims accepting the rules of unbelievers. “O believers do not take your fathers or your brothers as your guardians if they prefer disbelief to Islam. Whoever does so is a wrongdoer.”( 9:23) The only status acceptable to Muslims is that they should rule over others. “We made you an exalted nation, that you may be guardians over the people.” (2:143) On the other hand, Koran commands them to obey the rules of unbelievers if they do not have the strength or numbers to terrorize those they deem unbelievers.  It is when they think they are strong enough to bully that the ugly side of Islam exposes Muslims for what they really are.

Historically, Muslims start imposing their bullying tactics as soon as they can. When Muhammad migrated to Yathrib, a Jewish town with substantial Arab refugees, (who were displaced due to the flooding of their country in Yemen), he had barely 200 followers. The population of the town was about eight to ten thousand people. However, his small band of followers managed to subdue the entire city, banish and massacre its indigenous population and changed its name to Madinat al Nabi (Prophet’s town) in just five years. How they did they do that? Through terror!  At Muhammad’s order, they assassinated the poets who composed critical verses against him.  People began to fear speaking against Islam lest they be killed.  Bullying works. He bragged, I have been made victorious with terror. [Bukhari 4:52.220]

Muslims follow the examples set by their prophet to try to conquer the world; therefore it is proper to call them Muhammadians.  Countries that were not conquered through warfare were won through migration. Today Muslims migrate to the west and even though they are a small minority they cast terror in the hearts of the locals to make them submit to the cult of death. They assassinate the critics and the cartoonists. The spineless politicians, the shameless media and the clueless intellectuals are all showing their true cowardice and are telling Muslims that terrorism works; that we are afraid of you and will submit to your rules; that your barbaric blasphemy law is more important than our freedom of speech. We will sacrifice our freedom of speech, the very cornerstone of our representative republic, vilify and prosecute those who offend you as longs as you threaten to kill us.

Phobia is an irrational fear. Muhammad wanted people to fear him. He said, “I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them.” (8:12) How can then we say the fear of Islam is irrational?   Islamophobia, as someone has pointed out, is a word invented by fascists, and used by cowards to manipulate morons.

Christians need to remember that their Scripture admonishes them to stand up against the Devil.  It is only then that he will flee.

Then we have Barak Hussein Obama’s outrageous statement that “the future must not belong to those who criticize the prophet of Islam.” This man who rarely speaks truth was at least truthful in his biography where he wrote: “I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.” Americans read it but hid their heads in the sand much like the Germans who read Mein Kamph hid theirs.

Obama is a Muslim who hates America. Anyone who doubts that needs to open their eyes and pay attention to the facts.  Unfortunately the corruption is widespread. Nidal Malik Hasan the Palestinian-American convicted of fatally shooting 13 people and injuring over 30 others in the Fort Hood mass shooting in 2009, shouted Allahu Akabr while executing his terrorist act and maintained that his motives were religious. Yet, the Department of Defense, supported by law enforcement, politicians, journalists, refused to make any connection between Islam and Hasan’s action despite his own assertions.

Daniel Pipes pointed out, “Were the subject not morbid, one could be amused by the disagreement over what exactly caused the major to erupt. Speculations included “racism” against him, “harassment he had received as a Muslim,” his “sense of not belonging,” “mental problems,” “emotional problems,” “an inordinate amount of stress,” the “worst nightmare” of his being deployed to Afghanistan, or something fancifully called “pre-traumatic stress disorder.” One newspaper headline, ‘Mindset of Rogue Major a Mystery,’ sums up this bogus state of confusion.”

There is no confusion. This is called dhimmitude. The two factors that promote it are fear and greed. The people, and those in power, including the media and the academia, are largely afraid of Muslims although some have been bought.  Many Universities receive donations from Iran and Saudi Arabia to create departments for Islamic studies that advance their agenda.

Therefore it is time for all Christians to stand up and say, “You shall proceed no further,” to the death cult of Islam and all of its enablers.  It is time for all freedom loving Americans to stand and stop the advance of the barbarians.  There will be a clash of civilizations but once the Islamofacist bullies see that we mean business they will suddenly decide to leave their 7th century behavior and become part of the civilized world.   …at least for a time.

Islam advances thanks to people’s ignorance.  Defending Islam is an insult to the victims of this religion-of-death worldwide. What about those so called Christians who want to love Muslims telling the victims of Muslims in Iraq and all over the world? Aren’t they, in fact, telling them, “I hate you but I love your oppressors,” by their words and deeds?  When you defend evil you are part of it.

Muslims’ strategy to conquer the world is to deceive on the one hand and on the other to cast terror. This was the strategy of Muhammad. Terror is the language that Muslims speak and understand. To stop Islam therefore, we must turn the table on them and give them a dose from their own medicine.   Muslims must feel uncomfortable and threatened in order to behave like good citizens. If they are not under your foot, they will be at your throat. That is how the mind of Muslims work.

  • Pastor Ward

If My people…seek My face….

Featured Image -- 18One of the sad realities within the local church today centers on the fact that numerous born-again Christians have little or no knowledge of the spiritual warfare that takes place all around us. The Bible is crystal clear in proclaiming that there is a battle raging in the heavenlies as the forces of evil continue to wage war against not only the Creator, but also against all who trust in Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord. Islam is just one of the examples of that warfare.

As believers, we may often wonder if there is anything we can do to counter the attacks our spiritual enemy hurls at us. We might even ask, “Can we, as Christian couples and parents, stand in the gap for our marriages, our children, and our homes?” Let me say a resounding, “Yes, we can, and we must stand united in the victory Jesus has secured for us.”

As Genesis 3 shows us, Satan’s desire is not only to destroy our lives, but also to weaken and sever the relationships we hold dear. We might all agree that Adam and Eve were both at fault for their disobedience and rebellion against God’s commandments. But a careful reading of Genesis 3:12 shows that Adam blamed his sin not only on his wife, but also on his Creator by saying to the Lord, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”

Without question, Satan is still using the same tactics against our marriages and homes today. He seeks to divide us from our spouses and our children as he plans his strategies to destroy the unity God has designed for us. Just as he was successful in breaking the unity Adam and Eve shared with their Creator, he is still achieving an alarming number of victories in the modern-day Christian home, as the sins of pride and selfishness are often all too prevalent.

I have often talked with numerous people who have had serious questions about the origins of evil and sin in the world. Many may wonder, “How and when, did sin begin?” As the Bible teaches, Satan sinned when he exercised his free will to rebel against his Creator.

Over my years in pastoral ministry, I have encountered far too many believers who lack the knowledge about who they are in Christ. I am completely convinced that unless we acquire a solid biblical understanding of our “in Christ” position, we will be unable to fully counter the attacks of our enemy as he tempts us to exercise our free will and rebel against the commandments of God. As believers, we have a tremendous responsibility to study God’s Word so we can be better able to stand firm with the knowledge and power our Lord has provided for us as we face the devil and his forces of evil.

Without a doubt, it is time that we, as the children of God, woke up and begin living as strong advocates of the cause of Christ Jesus.  May our awareness be so quickened that we will begin recognizing the attacks of the devil when they come our way but not be distracted or deterred by the superfluous stuff.

Would you agree that Satan has been achieving his victories for far too long?  Will you join with me as we literally claim the power of God Holy Spirit against the one who seeks to divide and destroy our marriages, our homes, our churches, and our country?  As the people of God, we can praise our Creator for all His abundant promises as we literally stand in the strength He provides.

2nd Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

  • Pastor Ward Clinton

Islam sucks

The cult of death is waging a war against everyone.

One of the sad realities within the local church today centers on the fact that numerous born-again Christians have little or no knowledge of the spiritual warfare that takes place all around us. The Bible is crystal clear in proclaiming that there is a battle raging in the spiritual realms as the forces of evil continue to wage war against not only the Creator, but also against all who trust in Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord.

As believers in the holy one of the one true God, Jesus The Christ, we may often wonder if there is anything we can do to counter the attacks our spiritual enemy hurls at us.  Yes, we can, and we must because we are the Children of The Light and we know that the way of Muhammad is the way of death and destruction which leads to the eternal darkness for all those entrapped in that system.

As Genesis 3 shows us, the Prince of Darkness’ desire is not only to destroy our lives, but also to weaken and sever the relationships we hold dear. We might all agree that Adam and Eve were both at fault for their disobedience and rebellion against God’s commandments but while they initiated the blame game they were not able to escape the consequences of their failure to stand and do the right thing.

As for the followers of Muhammad, the words of Deuteronomy chapter 32 come to mind, “Their rock is not our Rock,” and their rock shall not prevail against the Lord of life, light, and love.  Now is the time for us to stand and inform them that they may leave the path that leads to eternal darkness and join us in following the true path that leads to everlasting life.

The cult of death will lose and the time to leave it is now.

Charleston AME Church is Awesome

gun not problemrace arrest  Within a few hours after hearing about the tragedy in Charleston, S.C. some were asking, “Pastor will you be making a comment in your blog?”  Replying in the affirmative I said that it would be a couple of days so that we would be able to learn the real facts first.  Don’t you wish our President would have done the same?

Once again Obama was quick to use a crisis to stir racial strife and in general division among various groups of people while calling for confiscation of guns instead of proclaiming compassion and promoting healing in the fashion of previous Presidents.  Most likely he felt he had to rush out to the video cameras because he was afraid the actual facts will get in the way of the agenda he has been pushing.  Time and again, the facts prove to be vastly different from what Obama purports them to be but he doesn’t really care because he knows that most of his followers will blindly follow whatever he tells them and ignore the truth when it does come out at a later point in time.

  • Church was apparently a “gun-free zone”
  • Shooter sat in bible Study for nearly an hour before he started shooting people
  • Shooter reportedly reloaded 5 times
  • Al Sharpton was quickly dispatched (to stir up strife)
  • Drug user – another killer on psychotropic drugs.  Suboxone is a habit forming drug that has been connected with sudden outbursts of aggression.  It is also used to treat opiate addiction.
  • Common thread in these incidents isn’t race, it is godlessness

Although Al Sharpton was quickly dispatched to promote racism and bigotry in Charleston and to stir up as much strife as possible (it is his M.O.), there were others who came together in an effort to promote healing and unity and to comfort the broken-hearted.

Founders’ Bible article Ezra 8, page 715. Excerpt from President John Tyler: “When a Christian people feel themselves to be overtaken by a great public calamity, it becomes them to humble themselves under the dispensation of Divine Providence, to recognize His righteous government over the children of men, to acknowledge His goodness in time past as well as their own unworthiness, and to supplicate His merciful protection for the future.”

At the bond hearing  the Judge said, “Charleston is a strong community we have big hearts….”  He also stated words to effect that we must find it in our hearts to help all the victims of this crime, including those in Dylann’s family who were not a part of that crime or accessories to it in any manner.

One relative of one of the slain victims said, “Hate must not win” and another said “I forgive you” and another “I don’t understand, we reached out to you”  but also expressed a forgiving heart.  They were wonderful representatives of a wonderful church which is obviously truly following in the footsteps of Jesus the Christ.

I have no doubt that the late Reverend Martin Luther King would be ashamed of this President but proud of the slain victims and their families.  They are over-comers and the blessed ones of God.

obama nut Sorry Barry

Pastor Ward Clinton

Jesus v Muhammad Islams god below

How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia (rabies) in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live.

Sir Winston Churchill, 1899.
British Conservative politician and statesman of the United Kingdom during the Second World War.

Obama Admin. Offers ridiculous argument for slave reparations, “Would close wealth gap”

Given his adulation and admiration for the role of islam in the history of the United States, what proportion of the reparations are to come from islam, major slave-trading entity? But then, JIZYA is taxing nonbelievers to fund islam, TAQIYYA is abandoning TRUTH to benefit islam, and his ultimate goal for the “fundamental transformation” is the islamization of our Republic, is it accurate to assume that he will find some way to divert some of these reparations TO islam, rather than FROM islam?

The Irish Slave Trade – the forgotten “white” slaves.  The Irish slave trade began when James II sold 30,000 Irish prisoners as slaves to the New World.  – Global research centre

Pastor Ward Clinton

Koran evildeath cult video

Dihydrogen Monoxide warning

Dihydrogenmonoxide

The success of today’s blog depends on you, the citizen concerned about Dihydrogen Monoxide.  Dihydrogen monoxide is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and kills uncounted thousands of people every year. Most of these deaths are caused by accidental inhalation of DHMO, but the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide do not end there. Prolonged exposure to its solid form causes severe tissue damage. Symptoms of DHMO ingestion can include excessive sweating and urination, and possibly a bloated feeling, nausea, vomiting and body electrolyte imbalance. For those who have become dependent, DHMO withdrawal means certain death.

Please keep comments appropriate to the spirit, intent, and content of this particular blog post.  Deniers of the hazards associated with DHMO are to be treated with a level of respect appropriate to their responses and interactions with other respondents.  Likewise advocates of action and activities regarding the mitigating of hazards posed by dihydrogen monoxide are encouraged to interact appropriately.

I have heard that DHMO has also been called Oxygen Dihydride as well as Hydrogen Hydroxide which are potentially terms designed to confuse and allay concerns regarding DHMO but that may be merely conspiratorial thought processes at play.

We do know that Dihydrogen Monoxide:

  • May be fatal if inhaled.
  • has a greater affect on climate that all of the other so-called greenhouse gasses combined.
  • Is a major component of acid-rain
  • contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape
  • accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals
  • may cause severe burns.
  • has been used as a fire retardant
  • may cause electrical failures
  • may cause decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes
  • has been found in excised tumors of cancer patients
  • has been used to clean produce but even after washing, produce remains visibly contaminated by the DHMO.
  • Grocers have been known to wash meat in it.
  • canned meats frequently state that DHMO has been added to the product although it is frequently found to have been added without warning the consumer
  • is an additive in certain “junk-foods” and other food products.
  • has been found in excessive quantities in sewage treatment plants and may even be coming out of your household faucets.
  • you local reservoir may be full of DHMO therefore you should always exercise caution when swimming or engaging in various activities around said reservoir.
  • Quantities of dihydrogen monoxide have been found in almost every stream, lake, and reservoir in America today. But the pollution is global, and the contaminant has even been found in Antarctic ice. DHMO has caused millions of dollars of property damage in the Midwest recently.
  • Some reservoirs currently have lower levels of DHMO than normal however that seems to dismay those who engage in activities in or near the reservoir.  This may be closely associated to the fact that DHMO is the most addictive substance on earth.  If a person is unable to consume any DHMO whatsoever it is fatal.
  • The federal government has refused to ban the production, distribution, or use of this damaging chemical due to its “importance to the economic health of this nation.” In fact, the navy and other military organizations are conducting experiments with DHMO, and designing multi-billion dollar devices to control and utilize it during warfare situations. Hundreds of military research facilities receive tons of it through a highly sophisticated underground distribution network. Many store large quantities for later use.
  • Companies dump waste DHMO into rivers and the ocean, and nothing can be done to stop them because this practice is still legal. The impact on wildlife is extreme, and we cannot afford to ignore it any longer!

The Wonderful Promise of Prayer

PrayerGood Morning everyone.  People are still coming to Christ Jesus each and every day.  Yes, it is easy to let all the bad news occurring all around us to lose heart and hope but those of us who are followers of The Holy One of God need to keep praying.  Let each one of us begin the day with God.  Let us make an appointment with our Father in Heaven and refuse to break it, especially in a day such as this.

As believers, we may often wonder if there is anything we can do to counter the attacks our enemy hurls at us. We might even ask, “Can we, as Christian couples and parents, stand in the gap for our marriages, our children, and our homes?” Let me say a resounding, “Yes, we can, and we must stand united in the victory Jesus has secured for us.”

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Matthew 7:8 For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.

Every promise which God give us is attached to a duty.  Concerning any duty it is not enough to do it, it must be done according to the prescribed methodology.

God desires that we should have a clear understanding about the certainty of prayer.  Never be afraid of being too earnest.  “Knock.”  Note that that is a repeated statement.  As big as the Bible seems to be, it is actually quite concise; therefore when we see something repeated we should pay closer attention than we otherwise might have.

Watch in prayer to see what comes.  Foolish folk who knock at the door but then fail to stay till someone comes to provide a response will fail to see the door opened but the desperate soul will tend to persist in knocking and will see an answer.  Some don’t believe in prayer because all they have ever done is to knock and run.

Ask, whom?  Not of angels, not of saints but make your request to the only One who is everywhere present.

Ask, when?  Anytime; some times are better than others.  For most, morning is best.  Daniel prayed three times a day at set times.  George Washington followed the example set by Daniel and would not permit anything to interrupt his prayer times.  He knew to ask of the One who is every when present.

Ask, why?  That is the methodology that God has chosen.  In His economy if we don’t ask, He won’t act.

Ask, How?

a.  Orderly; think about what you are going to ask.  Forget that “prayer language” stuff, because if you don’t actually know what you prayed for how will you know if it has been answered?

b.  Earnestly.

c.  Repeatedly: until you receive an answer.  In your own style – you’re talking to your daddy.  If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your personal Savior then God is not yet your daddy.  Popular foolishness says “We are all children of God,” but that is not backed up by the Holy bible.  First, one has to petition for adoption because we are all, in fact, children of Adam and, as such, alienated from His Kingdom biologically whether we be Jew, Gentile, and especially the Ishmaelite.  He desires that each one of us become a part of His forever family whether we be Jew, Gentile, or Ishamaelite.

d.  In faith.  In the name of Jesus; see John chapter fifteen … that is not a magic phrase – it is a privilege extended to us by the Savior and a recognition of whom it is that has guaranteed our ability to have a right relationship, and communication, with the God of the universe.

To pray is to put the understanding in motion.

To pray is to put the affections in motion; to open the heart.

To pray is to put the will in motion.

Praying is frequently thought of as a passive activity and when it is merely a rote recital of the model prayer or some other one without any real thought or effort put forth that may be an accurate description.  However, when the three above ingredients are all put into the mix it becomes a real work with a special dignity of its own.

Prayer, proper prayer, places the soul face to face with facts of the first order of solemnity; with its real self and with its God.

It is noble, because it is the work of man as man, it quickens the interest of man to that which is beyond the range of petty daily and material interests while enhancing proper interest in them by igniting higher enthusiasms into life, and of man becoming more aware of his being and destiny with a vividness which is necessary to him as no other occupation may.  The nobleness of a man’s best form of toil falls infinitely below that of a spirit which enters consciously into converse with the eternal God.  However that toil, no matter how mundane, may be elevated to an almost sacred level once the work of prayer has consecrated it.

If prayer is to be persevered in, it must be based on the conviction that it is heard by a living being.  If God exists, if He be a Personal Being, then surely we may reach out to Him if we actually want to.  If God be not merely an infinite intelligence, but a moral being, a mighty heart, so that justice and tenderness are attributes of His, then surely we may appeal to Him with some concern that we may have.  It is upon this solid ground that God is said to hear prayer in the Holy Bible.  That He should do so follows from the reality of His nature as the one true God.

The laws of nature are not self-sustained forces; they are God’s laws and God can use His own laws.  They have not escaped His control.

Prayer is a forseen action of man, and is embraced in the eternal purpose of God.

Probably the biggest barrier to effectual prayer is found in a person’s perception of his own self-sufficiency which is frequently demonstrated in the attitude and practice of, “When all else fails, pray.”  No, no … no.  Prayer should be our first resort, not our last.

2nd Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.