Word for the day "The Secret of Prayer"

Matthew 6:5 (NKJV) 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.Many people of God have shortfalls with prayer and seldom pray, because they’ve been taught to “take everything by faith.” We preach faith in our messages, but we must also teach the message of prayer. We must teach obedience, repentance, the Word, faith, and prayer! It is said, “Why pray? Why plead with God when He has already promised it? If the Lord knows what we need before we ask, why keep asking?” Some even teach, “If you ask when the Lord has already promised, that is unbelief. Just claim the promise and then rest; there’s no need to pray over it.” Today’s message hopefully will unlock a few critical insights in our journey with God!Abraham had the promise of becoming a mighty nation locked up securely; God had already made him this promise: “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth” (Genesis 13:15-16). God had promised to bless those who blessed Him and to curse those who cursed Him. Abraham had so much faith that God accounted it to him as righteousness: “And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Here is a man of God, secure in God’s promises and full of faith; yet he ran to the altar over and over again to pray (see Genesis 12:8 and Genesis 13:4). So we see that neither his faith or God’s promises superseded prayer.Moses, too, valued his intimacy more than any blessing. Look at him standing on top of the hill with his arms being held up to God by Aaron and Hur! God had already promised that the Amalekites would be defeated and Israel was promised victory. Yet, Moses goes up the hill to call on God with upraised hands. “And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-Nissi” meaning the Lord is my Banner (Exodus 17:15).Many today look upon secret prayer as hard work and boring, so they do it only occasionally. Can you imagine a husband and wife living in the same house, hardly ever speaking and yet in public speaking as if they were intimate? That's how some of us treat our blessed Lord! Prayer, hidden secret prayer, is the mightiest weapon God has given His people; yet it is neglected, disdained, and seldom used. How about you, how is your Prayer life and time working out?Point to ponder: God is eager to show us that we have power in prayer. The Lord gives us this glorious reminder: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).In His Service,Pastor James Baker, Jr.