…that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. — Luke 1:74, 75

Glory to God!  Jesus came not only to give you a ticket to heaven, but also to deliver you from fear, so that you can live before Him, in His Presence, in His glory, standing holy and righteous, all the days of your life!  There isn’t anything keeping you from a wonderful relationship with God other than your own thought life.  You have been created holy and righteous...you have been reconciled to God...He is no longer holding your sin against you...you can go before Him every day of your life.  He paid the price!  Fellowship is His idea!  Your holiness and righteousness was His plan.  Come out of the fig-leaf mentality, come out from behind the bush of fear, and take your place as The Righteous of God.  Serve Him in power, in confidence, in boldness, before Him, all the days of your life.

As though God did beseech you [plead with you] by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

— 2 Corinthians 5:20  [italics mine--Pastor Tom]

It’s over!  It’s done!  God has reconciled you to Himself, became sin so you could be made righteous, delivered you from fear and guilt, and made you holy before Himself.  He has done all He can do for you, so He is beseeching you!  He is pleading with you!  Be reconciled to Him!  Stop calling yourself unworthy.  Stop thinking of yourself as a sinner or a failure.  Accept what He did for you and come into fellowship with Him.  He longs for and desires a garden experience with you.  Renew your mind to His Word and His promises.  Believe in the price that He paid-–He was made sin with your sin, so you could be made righteous with His righteousness.  Why not pray?  Why not take your place in God?  Your prayers pack power!  Your prayers move mountains!  Your prayers shake hell!  The fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much!  You are that righteous man – your prayers do make a difference!

And when thou prayest... — Matthew 6:5

Jesus is talking to His disciples about prayer, or communicating with the Father.  He did not say “if” you pray, He said “when” you pray.  Jesus believed that every day we are to spend time in fellowship with the Father, so He was explaining to His disciples how to do it.  Prayer is a privilege given to you so you can have fellowship, relationship, and partnership with Almighty God.  It is the most important daily activity you can do, because that’s how you can receive direction and recharge your spiritual battery.  Start to put aside a period of time each day to talk and listen to God.  Little by little, it will grow into a conscious awareness of God throughout your day.  You will find yourself in direct, constant communication with God at home, at school, on the job, in the store, in the car–-wherever you are.  Soon the decisions you make will be good ones, the daily choices you make will be the right ones.  The Spirit’s voice and the Word of God will become your answer in every situation, and victorious living will be the result.

They love to pray...that they may be seen of men. — Matthew 6:5

Having the right reason, the right motive, to pray, is important.  Many pray in a religious manner just so they can say that they prayed.  This makes them feel better about themselves and gives them a sense of satisfaction because they did their duty.  You may even think that you are impressing God and others with your prayer life.  “Look at me!  I prayed two hours today!”  But prayer is communication with a real Person.  God is real, and He desires fellowship and an intimate relationship with you.  He created you on His spiritual level so you could relate to Him and love Him, and true love of and for God should be your motive for anything done in the Kingdom.  He loves you and desires to spend time with you.  Give God a chance!  Come to Him, expecting to hear and receive from Him.  Prayer is not a ritual or a duty, it is the privilege of fellowship with the Father.  It is a necessity!  He is waiting for you.