Please read devotional number 26 from Deuteronomy 4:7. Isn't it a remarkable thing that the living God desires a relationship with us? God, who is often viewed as someone very distant, has a desire to be to be in close relationship with mankind. The Lord Himself initiates the contact with us. With Moses, the Lord provided a bush that was not consumed by fire. There, Moses heard the voice of the Lord. With Paul, it was the bright light or perhaps a bolt of lightening that got his attention. Then he heard the voice of the Lord. (God, knows how to get your attention as well.) Intimacy is important to God and it should be to us.

A faithful servant of the Lord retired only to find he needed emergency by-pass surgery. He was sent a distance from his home to a hospital that specialized in cardiology. He met the surgeon just before the procedure. The doctor asked if he could pray for him. The patient asked; "who are you going to pray to"? The living God has directed us to pray in the name of Jesus. The Lord desires intimacy with us in relationship. While He knows how to get our attention, we are the ones who can maintain the closeness in relationship. While we we seek favorable answers to our prayers as we call upon His name, our greatest gain is drawing near to Him.

Devotional #25 is taken from 1 Samuel 12:23 (please read). The prophet Samuel lived in faithfulness to the Lord with a heart and attitude that listened for the voice of God. He put himself in a position to hear, by faithfully looking to God in prayer. He was so disciplined and faithful to prayer, that no matter the response of others, Samuel never lost sight of his calling of God to pray for the people. It appears to me that Samuel didn't give up on prayer or people, because God did not give up on them.
Samuel bore witness to the people by continuing to provide righteous teaching and and living, revealing the way to God, was open to them. It appears the church of today, considers prayer an option for the believer. But this verse, #23, indicates prayer is more than optional; It is a divine directive for the follower of God to pray. Even more than that, it is the way to nearness to God, His hope, truth, love and direction for life. At times, as the Lord reveals Himself to us, He asks us to put our feet to our prayers. (To think, that we might have the privilege of doing some service for the King of Glory is humbling.)

Devotional #24, taken from Ezra 8:23 (please read) is a model for praying and fasting before the Lord. Ezra, the priest, felt led by God to rebuild the Temple that had been destroyed and was given a letter by King Artazerxes that furnished silver, food and things previously stolen from the Temple. Ezra, ordered a halt of the ones who were to restore the temple. A fast was proclaimed to humble themselves and they sought the Lord for their journey. In our culture, we tend to plan, make provisions, along with reservations for the journey. But here we find Ezra, seeking direction from the Heavenly King, not merely a well intending earthly king. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says; "We live by faith, not by sight." Ezra was not disappointed, for God answered their prayer, and they were covered on their spiritual journey.
May we be known as people who "inquire of the Lord" for our spiritual journey. Fasting and prayer is a way of humbling ourselves before the Lord and sincerely seeking Him.

Please read devotional #23 as taken from Acts 12:6.
From a personal testimony, a single father shared a praise from a recent personal experience. At the end of May his bank account was low and bill collectors were calling. The rent needed to be paid, food was as low, and $400.00 worth of medication was needed for his son. He decided to fast and pray. On the second day, money started to come in. On the third day a family member needed financial assistance. Instead of attending to his own needs first, he gave assistance to his family member. On the sixth day, more favor from the Lord was received. Enough financial income was received to pay all the bills for two months.
This written praise was closed with; God is good all the time!
Indeed He is!