Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
(James 5:16)

It's very comforting to have friends that you can turn to in times of need and know that not only will they not pass judgment on you, they will offer prayer to help strengthen you.  You immediately feel their support and it gives you a second wind to attack the problem.  Prayer is indeed powerful!

The Lord is near to all who call on Him, 
to all who call on Him in truth.
(Psalm 145:18)

He is near..... He hears..... He knows our heart.  Even in times when we don't see direct answers to prayer, keep trusting in the Lord to listen and answer in His timing.  Be patient, be trusting..... keep praying.

(Internet issues, so blogging has been sparse.)

I call on you, my God, for You will answer me;
turn Your ear to me and hear my prayer.
(Psalm 17:6)

The power of prayer is huge.  I know it can be discouraging when we don't see a quick answer to our prayers but it can also free us from worrying about the issue, knowing that God is listening and taking it under His wing.  Patience is usually required when we make a prayer request.  That patience may only be needed for a few minutes or it might be needed for a few decades.  It's God's timing...... remember?  Be patient.

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,  keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
(Jude 1:20-21)

Keeping myself in God's love..... what a wonderful place to be!

More things are wrought by prayer
  Than this world dreams of. Wherefore, let thy voice
  Rise like a fountain for me night and day.
  For what are men better than sheep or goats
  That nourish a blind life within the brain,
  If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer
  Both for themselves and those who call them friend?

"Morte D'Arthur"
Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Prayers for friends and prayers from friends are some of the greatest gifts of all.

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,  keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
(Jude 1:20-21)

Faith and praying builds our character.  It helps us to resist the temptation that is put before us every day.  I still cave in to temptation, but when I go back to the Holy Spirit, my resolve is restored and shored up, ready for the next attack. 

Christmas Prayer
by Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894]

Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds and the wisdom of the wise men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clean hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake.

Amen.

Praise be to God,
who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!
(Psalm 66:20)

I'm always amazed that God loves each and every one of us, warts, sins, and all.  His capacity for loving the unlovable is far beyond my comprehension, yet I know it's true.  And He hears each and every prayer.  He may not answer it on my terms or in my time frame, but He does hear and He does answer.  I'm grateful that I'm not rejected by the Holiest of all, my heavenly Father!

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
(Luke 6:12)

"Spent the night praying".....that's serious prayer time!

My prayer time has been very busy lately.  So many people needing prayer support.  If you're like me, as much as I love these people, I sometimes forget a prayer request.  I actually keep a little notebook to help remind me of the prayer requests so that I don't miss one.  I send up little prayer requests throughout the day, but when I get down on my knees and really want to "cover my bases" and spend serious prayer time with God, this little notebook helps.  Another nice thing about keeping a prayer request notebook is that you also see all of the prayers that are answered when you look back over the past requests.  I'm a list maker, so this little notebook fits my personality and it lets me relax and not worry about forgetting an important prayer request.  Might not be your style, but if it is, give it a try.

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
(Luke 5:16)

Even Jesus required quiet, alone time with His Father.  While He was on earth in human form, He needed to "keep in touch" with His Father.  We too, need to keep in touch with our Heavenly Father.  Through prayer, we are able to have an intimate conversation and relationship with God.  Even on our busiest days, we must make time for an uninterrupted conversation with God.  Schedule it in your appointment book if that's what it takes to save some quality time for God!

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
(Acts 4:31)

Praying is such a wonderful way to recharge your spiritual batteries so that you can be bold instead of being meek and retreating from giving testimony.  Prayer really does empower you, giving you strength in all areas of your life.