"He has regarded the prayer of the destitute And has not despised their prayer." Psalm 102:1
The power of prayer was demonstrated this week, when on Friday my brother in Christ, Gregory, was freed from his tribulation in the face of the enemy. It highlighted that God does answer the prayer of the righteous even when all seems lost. Oftentimes we are tempted to believe that God does not answer our prayers, because we expect things to happen right away. I have fallen into that trap many times, which ends in doubt, and loss of faith. 
Colossians 4:2 teaches us that we should, "devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;". If we devote ourselves to praying with an attitude of thanksgiving we will focus of righteous, leaving the negatives of doubt. In my walk with God I have noticed that when I pray with an attitude of thanksgiving that God has answered my prayers. I am thankful for all that God does for me. Christians are often quick to focus on what they don't have, instead of focusing on what they have. If you have food, clothes and a place to lay your head, what are you worried about? Jesus said in Matthew 8:20, "Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." Yet we who are so blessed complain. Do we ever just pray thanking God that we woke up today, or we had a shoe to put on, or eyes to see? When we pray, what are we thinking about? Are we thinking about what we want or what we need? Do we pray about our enemies the same way we pray about our brother and sisters?
When we pray today, let it be more than a ritual, but a genuine reverence before God. In Psalm 141:2, "may my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering", we see the humility offered. Let us empty our thoughts when we bow before him, yes we are constantly tempted, but when we come in his presence we should surrender all.


Proverbs 15:29 teaches us that, "the LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous." We have the power of prayer to change the life of ourselves and others, but we have to believe in our hearts and to have faith in God. Without faith and humility we are without hope.


Let us continue to pray steadfastly, trusting in God always. Pray without ceasing, it doesn't matter when or where, God will hear us.