I recently heard from an old acquaintance who had a dear friend who was gravely ill. She asked me to pray for this man, because she said that I always seemed to have a special "connection" to the Lord, which enabled me to get amazing answers to my prayers. What's interesting is that I have heard this before - that I have a special "connection" to God, which makes my prayers more powerful than the average Christian. And if you were to ask me how you could have this kind of divine connection, too, here is what I would say to you.

First off, I would tell you that besides receiving Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you have to truly surrender your heart and life to Him. You must give Him access to every area of your life, not just the spiritual part. Jesus wants you to submit to His lordship where your relationships, your career, and even your entertainment are concerned. You can't separate the secular and the sacred. Every moment of your life must be lived to the glory of God. That doesn't mean that the Lord expects you to be perfect. Only Jesus lived a perfect life on this earth. But it means that you live every day of your life with this command in mind - "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV)

Second, in order to have a deep connection with God, you must heed the Savior's instructions in John 15:7 (AMPC): "If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you." Here is a powerful principle that leads to powerful prayer. You must believe God's Word, considering it "truth," as Jesus called it in John 17:17. And you must believe ALL of it. If you say, "Well, I just have a problem with some parts of the Bible," then your connection to God - and your prayers - will be greatly hindered. Scripture says, "If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable." (Proverbs 28:9 NIV) The Message Bible says it this way, "God has no use for the prayers of the people who won't listen to Him."

Years ago, when the Lord was teaching me how to pray effective prayers, He showed me Psalm 119:173 (NIV): "May Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts." God revealed to me that if I would choose to believe and honor His Word, His laws, and His precepts - over and above the laws of our culture and society - I would get "ready" answers to my prayers. The bottom line is that we are either going to be filled with the Word or the world. There is "no neutral ground" with God. (Luke 11:23 MSG) Which will YOU choose?

Prayer: Lord, today I surrender every aspect of my life to You, and I make You Lord over every area of my life. Help me to honor and glorify You with all of my thoughts, words, and actions. I choose to believe Your Word, and to consider it truth. Teach me how to pray effective prayers. Thank You that as I remain vitally united to You, and Your Words remain in me, I will receive ready answers to my prayers!