Please read devotional #30 from Jonah 2:1-2. The devotional points out just how merciful God is toward us, when our own disobedience has taken us to the deep dark depths. We can pray earnestly when our feet are in the stomach acid of a fish and we want out! Only a merciful God would hear the prayer of one so stubborn who would remain in that dark place for three days before praying. The Lord is redemptive, and doesn't want any to perish,not even the stubborn disobedient.
It is one thing to pray earnestly when we are seeking release from a place that we find unpleasant. But, our Lord desires companionship when all is well and we are hearing the song birds singing. Prayer is not just for the difficulties, but for the nearness and love of God.

Devotional #29 taken from 1 Peter 3:7 urging us to properly attend our relationships beginning with those nearest us. For those relationships can hinder our prayer life. Please read.

An anonymous testimony resulting from from the Sunday message of the 19th on the priority of prayer began with a question: "What is God asking of you?" God wants His followers to make prayer a priority, for prayer draws us close to God in relationship. We are to pray all kinds of prayers, to include (intercession for others). That sounds like it would include our enemies, for the word "everyone" is used. We are to live Godly, holy lives. Living holy means among other things; to open ourselves for God to pour through us, loosely translated from Frank More. The priority of Jesus is clear; He came to save the lost, and is a saving God. Jesus 'sent' His disciples to declare the message of the truth, that Jesus saves. Jesus is a ransom for all men. He wants all to be saved. The message concluded with, "What is God asking of you? We were invited to pray.

One who went forward to pray for individual souls, felt assured that the Lord heard that prayer for the lost, but felt a stirring in the heart when these words were clearly heard: "put feet to your prayers". The recipient of those words said; that meant, go, share the blessed truth with those named.

Week #28 devotional is from 1 Peter 3:12 "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer." Can you imagine God in heaven quieting the angels when you speak? And to think that the creator of the universe has his eyes focused upon you and what you are experiencing this very moment! It's one thing to have someone you love present at your ballgame or recital just to watch or hear you. But to consider that God lovingly watches you and listens for your words as you speak is for some, not readily embraceable.
Max Lucado has said; God has your picture on His refrigerator. It's one thing to have your mother or father to spread their first two fingers and point to their eyes and then take the index finger alone and point to you. (Meaning, I have my eyes on you!) But we would do well to grasp, that God desires the relationship to be that close with us. The writer of "His eye is on the Sparrow" embraced the idea. For he said, "I know He watches me".
We have come to appreciate a good listener when one is found. But when we pray, consider the thought that God brings a hand to His ear to hear every word.

Book number three begins with scripture that points the way to pleasing God. Please read devotional #27 and Proverbs 15:8. Have you thought much about bringing joy or pleasure to the living God? Through prayer we can please our Lord. It is amazing how quickly we learn how to gain a favorable response from another by doing or promising to do, something that pleases them. It is cute when done by a child and the recipient is fully aware. But cute, does not come to mind with adults. Adults tend to call it manipulation. We will not turn the Lord's head by offering sacrifices with contrived motives to get a favorable response.
A very young granddaughter broke into tears because she was denied something she wanted. Her brother, just a few years older asked her this question; "Do you know what crying will get ya?" She shook her head no amidst the tears. He said, "Nothing"! What he was saying is; that one doesn't get you what you think you want.
The Lord looks to the thoughts and intentions of the heart! We may not be clear at times on our own motives. But we can examine our own motives by a question; Are we after something when we sacrifice, or are we after God? Are we looking for God to shape our prayer or are we seeking for God to be turned by our sacrifice?
The right motive of heart brings pleasure to God. Isn't it an amazing thing to consider that we can bring pleasure to God through prayer? (Please obtain prayer booklet #3 at the welcome center.)