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Introduction: Article: Dr. Alexis Carrel, a famous physician said, "Prayer is not only worship; it is also an invisible emanation of man’s worshipping spirit—the most powerful form of energy that one can generate. If you make a habit of sincere prayer, your life will be very noticeably and profoundly enriched. Prayer is a force as real as terrestrial gravity. As a physician, I have seen men; after all other therapy had failed, lifted out of disease and melancholy by the serene effort of prayer. Too many people regard prayer as a formalized routine of works, a refuge for weaklings or a childish petition for material things. Properly understood, prayer is a mature activity indispensable to the fullest development of personality. Only in prayer do we achieve that complete and harmonious assembly of body, mind, and spirit which gives the frail human reed its unshakable strength."

A. All need Divine pardon (Rom. 3:10; 23).

1. We sin through ignorance, weakness, presumption and neglect of duty.

2. There are sins of the body and sins of the disposition.

B. Without pardon, there is no forgiveness of sins. But, a humble petition from a penitent Christian reaches the throne of mercy, touches the Father’s heart and secures abundant pardon.

A. Although we have knowledge, we do not know always how to apply it, how to solve our difficult problems and/or how to act in a crisis (James 1:5,6a).

B. God may answer our prayers in a least expected way.

C. Statement of an unknown Confederate Soldier: "I asked God for strength that I might achieve, I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health, that I might do greater things, I was given infirmity, that I might do better things. I asked for riches, that I might be happy; I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men, I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life, I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I had hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am among all men most richly blessed.

A. At times our hearts are broken, bowed down with sorrow and filled with fear, anxiety, bereavement and temptations.

1. A humble prayer to God brings relief, binds up the broken heart and lightens the burden (Matt. 11:28-30).

2. Do not wait until "all else fails" before you use this great power of God in our lives.

A. Are you tired of being too much like the people around you. There is power in prayer to change us (Rom. 12:1,2).

B. As Jesus was praying on the holy mountain, the fashion of His countenance was altered and his clothes became white and dazzling (Luke 9:29).

C. The prayers of an obedient person will give his life radiance, beauty and a heavenly glow (Matt. 5:16).

A. There are times when we feel so empty and unfulfilled, so unlike

Jesus, who is our perfect pattern (I Peter 2:21-24).

B. God can enrich our lives when we ask in the fullness of faith (James 5:16b).

C. Although Elijah was a man, great things happened when he asked God for help (James 5:17,18).

1. Yet, Elijah had to pray 7 times for rain before it came (I Kings 18:41-46).

2. Read the statement of Jesus in Matthew 7:7-11.

D. Too often this great power is an unused power! Prayer is either the biggest factor in our lives or the biggest fraud!

E. As the song asks, "Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray?"

F. An unknown author wrote the following:

I got up this morning early

And rushed right into the day.

I had so much to accomplish

That I didn’t have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled upon me,

And heavier became each task.

"Why doesn’t God help me?" I wondered,

He answered, "You didn’t ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty,

But the day toiled on, gray and bleak.

I wondered why God didn’t show me

And He said, "You didn’t seek."

I tried to come into God’s presence,

I used all the keys at the lock.

God gently and lovingly said,

"My child, you didn’t knock."

I woke up early this morning

And paused before entering the day.

I had so much to accomplish

That I had to take time to pray!