As we continue our series on seeking God, today we'll explore the intimate closeness of seeking God through prayer.

How amazing is our Father that he wants to commune with us, with you, with me.

Take a second to fathom how beautiful that truly is.

Today, may your heart be stirred to take advantage of the unbelievable gift prayer is today as you experience God. Welcome to the

First 15 podcast. The fact that God listens to us as his children changes the landscape of

prayer from empty phrases uttered

into the abyss to direct communication with the creator and sustainer of all. When you pray,

you are heard by your Heavenly Father, and it's because He listens to us that prayer is one of the

most wonderful and powerful avenues to pursue Him. May we learn to dialogue in greater ways with our Heavenly Father as we open our hearts to all

he would show us today about prayer.

Matthew 6, 7 through 8 says,

And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do,

for they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Do not be like them, for your father knows what you need before you ask him.

Jesus inaugurated an entirely new perspective on prayer.

Prior to Jesus, God's people would pray out of obligation or ritual,

begging a seemingly distant God to move on their behalf.

Jesus taught that God knows our needs before we even ask.

He taught that God is a good father who longed to respond to the needs of the children.

And in John 157, he taught,

If you abide in me and my words abide in you,

ask whatever you wish and it shall be done

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