How would you feel if your child were always in your presence and never spoke one word to you? God is our Father and we are His children if we have obeyed the truth, but some of us do not even bother to talk to our Protector. This is certainly contrary to I Thess. 5:17, where we are commanded to "Pray without ceasing." This means to be ready always to pray. If we conduct ourselves as obedient children, we will not try to escape from our Father. In I Timothy 2: 1, prayer is generally classified in four categories:

I. Supplications are strong inward cryings as we fall prostrate at the mercy of God. This is illustrated in the prayer of David, "0 God, thou knowest my foolishness and my sins are not hid from thee." (Psalm 69:5)

2. Prayers, in this text, refers to petitions, entreaties, or solemn requests to God. This involves begging, asking, and seeking. Jesus so prayed as. recorded in Luke 22:42, "Father, if it be thy will, let this cup pass from me.

3. Intercessions are prayerful petitions raised in behalf of others. We need to concern ourselves with the godly comfort, protection, and forgiveness of others as well as for our ownselves. Stephen when stoned prayed: "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." Christ prayed on the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

4. Thanksgiving is the final category of prayer in our text. God, as a loving Father, gives us bountiful blessings, both materially and spiritually. In return we are to express gratitude. When Jesus fed the five thousand in John 6:11, it is said that He "gave thanks" for the same.

Our prayers should contain these basic elements. Every child of God needs to talk to his Father several times daily. Let us remember that no problem is so great that we cannot talk to God about it. He is loving, understanding, and is quick to forgive us our trespasses. (Psalm 86:5).

Truth Magazine, XVIII:37, p. 10
July 25,1974