PRAYER IS COMMUNICATION
Genesis 18:16-33

Prayer is a way of communicating with God for an open heaven. Jesus demonstrated that when we pray heaven opens, “When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.” (Luke 3:21) Prayer is what separates a prevailing believer from a failing believer. When prayer becomes constant and consistent, prevailing over temptation and devices of the enemy becomes inevitable. Jesus warned His disciples, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:40) When prayer increases or persists before God, revelation also increases from God, to deliver and to preserve. When it was time for God to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their sin, Abraham entered into a communicating session of interceding on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah. God wanted to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their unyielding sinful way of life when He approached Abraham about His plan, “And the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, 21 I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”  (Genesis 18:20-21) As a result of God’s revelation of His plan to Abraham, negotiating and pleading on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah lasted between God and Abraham. Sodom and Gomorrah had no grounds for God not to destroy them because of their sin. Just like Abraham, Moses, by virtue of his relationship with God entered into communicating session of interceding on behalf of the children of Israel. After the rebellious act of the children of Israel God laid out his plan by communicating to Moses, “I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”(Numbers 14:12) Moses did not shut his mouth but opened it in pleading on behalf of the children of Israel. Moses repeatedly reminded God of the work of His hand over the children of Israel by asking God, “Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.”(Numbers 14:19) After the prayer of Moses for the deliverance of the children of Israel, God responded to Moses by communicating with him, “…I have pardoned, according to your word.” Moses got what he wanted for the children of Israel. When you build your relationship with God you will operate with Him in communication. As a believer, are you shutting your heaven by not communicating with God? Open your mouth in communication with Him and your heaven will be opened.

Prayer for today: Ask God to deliver you from whatever is causing believers to fall short in communication with God.