The "ABC"s of Prayer. "G" is for GRACE

Grace is often used interchangeably with the word mercy. However grace in the Scriptures deals primarily with the work of salvation. As it has been said: grace is "God's Riches At Christ's Expense". The difference between grace and mercy is best defined in Hebrews 4:16 where it says: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need”. In this passage it makes quite clear that mercy is to be “obtained” but grace is to be “found”. In the original Greek, “obtain” means to “take or claim” while grace is translated to mean something that is "freely offered to all who will receive it." How amazing to consider that God's grace is freely offered to help us during times of need! Today, let"s go on a spirirual "treasure hunt" to find the grace so freely given to each one of us.

The "ABC"s of Prayer. "F" is for FAITH

In E. M. Bounds' book "The Necessity Of Prayer" he repeatedly mentions that there can be no separation of FAITH and prayer. To the extent that we should not even enter into prayer unless it is in an attitude of faithful expectation that God will hear and respond. In speaking of faith, Bounds even goes so far as to say that prayer "has no existence apart from it,and accomplishes nothing unless it be its inseparable companion."

Faith is the component that makes prayer effective and must precede it. This very important qualifier is identified by the writer of the book of Hebrews who said: "Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."(Hebrews 11:6) There remains then this inseverable bond between faith and prayer. So esssential, powerful and interconnected that James the Apostle said specifically that it is "the prayer of faith" that forgives sin, heals the sick and more.(James 5:15)

In the Christian experience then, it is faith that gives birth to prayer and will cause our prayer life to "grow stronger, strike deeper and rise higher." If we can begin to understand the intimate connection between faith and prayer, our prayer life will never be the same! Our prayes will not only become "the substance of things hoped for," but answers to prayer will become "the evidence of things unseen." (Hebrews 11:1)

The "ABC"s of Prayer - EMPATHY

Each of us experiences difficult times. As we travel the length of life's valleys; if we are fortunate enough to meet someone along the way who has experienced the same difficulties, it helps us to know and understand that we too can endure the trial. Incredible as it may seem, Christ understands our distress. He is "a man of sorrow acquainted with grief." (Isaiah 53:3)We have an intercessor who has felt every affliction and pain. (Hebrews 4:14) Christ's ability to empathize with the emotion,suffering and sorrow of the human experience should provide more than enough inspiration for the believer to press on.
Think of it! In eternity past, the divine counsel of the Godhead deemed it necessary for Christ to be fashioned as a man so that He would "be a merciful and faithful high priest.(Hebrews 2:17)It is that familiarity that allows Him to comfort us in a way that even the closest friend could not. (Hebrews 2:18)In the words of the old gospel song: "nobody knows the trouble I've seen. . . nobody (that is)but Jesus!

The "ABC"s of Prayer - DEPENDANCE

The letter D in the "ABC"s of prayer stands for DEPENDANCE. Our dependance should be in Christ. In fact the words of Christ in John 15 indicate that without Him, we can do nothing.(John 15:5)If we abide in Christ however, there are amazing results that come from our dependance and reliance on Him. First of all, we will be fruitful!(John 15:5)How good to know our dependance on Christ will result in the furtherance of the kingdom of God simply because we rely on Him. Secondly, the word of God tells us that if we depend on Christ, we will experience the love and fullness of joy of the Father.(John 15:10)Finally;as it applies to prayer, our dependance on Christ gives us the incomprehensible knowledge of the fact that we can "ask what you will, and it will be done for you." (John 15:7)What a promise! We can enter into prayer with expectation for results as an outcome of our dependance on Him.