Charles F. Stanley - Prayer: The Ultimate Conversation

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Copyright 2012 by Charles F. Stanley

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This book was previously published in 2012 as The Ultimate Conversation .

First Howard Books trade paperback edition May 2013

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data is available.

ISBN 978-1-4391-9065-4

ISBN 978-1-4516-6860-5 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-4516-2885-2 (ebook)

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. http://www.lockman.org

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked ( TLB ) are taken from The Living Bible copyright 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved.

Of all the lessons I have learned from my dad, of all the challenges I have seen him face, of all the successes I have helped him celebrate, of all the disappointments I know he has suffered, the characteristic that defines him most is his relationship with God through prayer. Nothing has influenced me more than observing his daily habit of meeting with God behind closed doors, on his knees, Bible open, and with little regard for time.

BECKY STANLEY BRODERSEN, APRIL 2012

Your Priceless Privilege

D ID YOU KNOW THAT YOU are the beneficiary of a great honor? You have the privilege of coming into the very throne room of the Great I AM. Not only have you been invited to stand in His presence, you have been invited to conversation, an intimate dialogue with the One who cares about you most. It is the ultimate conversation: your opportunity to seek understanding from your Creator; your chance to ask the Lord of all that exists to deliver you in the areas where you cannot help yourself; and your privilege to know Him better.

People read books about prayer for all kinds of reasons. Some want to be sure they face life in the most positive and effective way possible. They know the Father will lead them in the very best paths for their lives, so they strive to learn the practical aspects of communicating with Him.

Others find themselves in situations where they have no other option than to look to God for guidance. The challenges they face are so far beyond their abilities that they realize they cannot rescue themselves. They recognize they need the Savior and long for Him to deliver them from their difficulties and sufferings.

Prayer is an intimate dialogue with the One who cares about you most.

At times, people struggle with the question Why? so intensely that they dont know where else to turn for answers. They hope the Lord will, in some way, give their lives significance and meaning.

Some simply want to know God intimately, personally, and profoundlyand that is a wonderful reason to pray. In fact, learning about the Father and understanding His ways should motivate our times of communion with Him. He loves us and wants us to know Him.

Whatever your goal for reading this book about the ultimate conversation, I want to encourage you to seek the Lord and go to the throne of grace more frequently, with greater intensity and focus. It is at His throne that you will discover life at its very besta life characterized and enriched by a growing, vibrant relationship with the Lord God Almighty, the Great Problem Solver.

Perhaps you are wondering if a conversation with the God of the Universe is really possible. After all, most people say they pray, but when you press them about whether they truly believe the Lord hears and answers them, they reply, I hope so. They may not have confidence that He will respond because they dont really trust His character. They may doubt they are worthy of His attention.

Let me assure you, God never intended us to approach Him with a hope so attitude. He wants us to trust Him. Our good, loving, and powerful heavenly Father is always available to hear and answer the prayers of His children. His response to us may not be what we expect, but He never fails to reply if were willing to listen.

So when people ask me if I really believe that a conversation with God is actually possible, I can answer truthfully, Yes, I absolutely do. In Jeremiah 33:3 He promises, Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know. The Lord has never gone back on a promise, and He never will (Josh. 21:45; 1 Kings 8:56). We can trust Him to answer us (Ps. 91:15).

This brings us to the first foundational principle of this book:

God desires to communicate with us.

We must start here, because as Hebrews 11:6 tells us, He who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. The Father wants you to know Him in a profound way and walk in intimate fellowship with Him.

Your Opportunity for Personal Relationship with God

I can say this because Ive experienced a deeply personal relationship with Him. As I reflect on my life, I can recount many long, connected seasons of nearly constant prayer, talking with the Father at every opportunity. At times His presence was so powerful that all I could do was whisper praises to His holy name in awe and wonder. Sometimes the pain was so deep and my helplessness so overwhelming, I could only cry out to Him in desperation. I have experienced both moments of weeping and seasons of joy before His throne. He has never disappointed or abandoned menot once (Deut. 31:8, 16; Heb. 13:5).

The Father wants you to know Him in a profound way and walk in intimate fellowship with Him.

You, too, can know so constant a Helper, so faithful a Friend, so worthy a Warrior, so wise a Leader, and so great a Redeemer. You, too, can experience God as deeply and intimately as I have because He is so absolutely wonderful.

The best part is, you dont need anything extra to enjoy His love and wisdomjust an open heart that hungers to know Him. I know a dear lady who has a seat in her sewing room that she calls her God chair. She sits there only to praynot for any other purpose. Daily she goes there to seek the Father, often for an hour or more at a time. It is her special place whenever she desires to experience the Lords presence. Is there anything extraordinary, supernatural, or important about that chair? No. It is simply an old chair. But it represents her communion with the living God and the fact that there is absolutely nothing better than knowing Him.