What is Prayer?
We are beginning January 2018 with a series titled, "Devoted to Prayer" (cf. Col 4:2). Prayer is an essential activity in a Christian's life. It is natural to the child of God to pray unto Him. It is absolutely necessary to the Christian life. Prayer is just as necessary as doctrine. A well-balanced Christian has both an ever-growing knowledge of doctrine and an ever-deepening life of prayer. Knowledge is useless without prayer, just as prayer is useless without knowledge. Consider the two extremes: First, consider the person who has no knowledge of true doctrine, but prays for hours a day. Devotees of false religions often pray many times a day, but their prayers are neither to the true God nor in the name of Jesus Christ. These prayers, though they be many, are ineffectual and unheard. Second, consider the person who has a doctorate in theology, but never prays. This person is a walking encyclopedia of doctrine. But he never prays. His theology is deficient in the sen...