How do I pray and why don’t I always get answers to my prayers?

Here is a practical suggestion by way of a story to help you to start praying;

A man's daughter had asked the local Rabbi to come and pray with her father . When the Rabbi arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows . An empty chair sat beside his bed . The Rabbi assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit . "I guess you were expecting me," he said . "No, who are you?" said the father . The Rabbi told him his name and then remarked, "I see the empty chair; I figured you knew I was going to show up . "

"Oh yeah, the chair," said the bed ridden man . "Would you mind closing the door?" Puzzled, the Rabbi shut the door .   "I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man . "But all of my life I have never known how to pray . At synagogue I used to hear the Rabbi talk about prayer, but it went right over my head . "

"I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old man continued, "until one day about four years ago my best friend said to me, 'Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Yeshua . Here is what I suggest . " "Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Yeshua on the chair . It's not spooky because He promised; "I'll be with you always . " Then just speak to Him in the same way you're doing with me right now . "

"So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day . I'm careful though . If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she’d either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm . The Rabbi was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey . Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the synagogue .

Two nights later the daughter called to tell the Rabbi that her daddy had died that afternoon . "Did he die in peace?" he asked . "Yes, and when I left the house about two o' clock, he called me over to his bedside and told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek . When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead . "But there was something strange about his death . Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed . What do you make of that?"

Sometimes we don’t seem to be able to hear from G-d . Consider this…

The man whispered, "G-d, speak to me" and a meadowlark sang . But, the man did not hear . So the man yelled "G-d, speak to me!" And, the thunder rolled across the sky . But, the man did not listen . The man looked around and said, "G-d let me see you . " And a star shined brightly . But the man did not notice . And, the man shouted, "G-d show me a miracle!" And, a life was born . But, the man did not know . So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me G-d, and let me know you are here!" Whereupon, G-d reached down and touched the man . But, the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on . Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you expect .

If you are not hearing from G-d ask yourself (and be honest) if you are giving G-d first place in your life. 

Answer these questions as a barometer to see where G-d fits into your life:

Is my love of G-d as great as my love of someone else?

Do I long for my time with G-d each day?

Do I consider G-d’s commandments restrictions in my life, or evidences of His love for me?

Am I willing to make His love known, or do I allow the fear of what men will think of me to keep me quiet?

G-d clearly tells us that He is a jealous G-d and will not accept competitors. He wants you to love Him above everything else. 

Ezekiel 14:3 Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that lead them into sin. Why should I let them ask me anything?

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