Introduction

“Perhaps you have experienced the rather embarrassing situation of talking to someone you thought was in the room, only to turn around and discover that at some point during your compelling monologue, the person had silently left the room. You were then left with the realization that, for some amount of time, you were wasting your breath, just droning on and on to yourself.

I’ve talked to many people who liken this experience to prayer. They see no point in devoting themselves to prayer because in their view, God has left the room, and their words are bouncing off the ceiling.

In actuality, nothing could be further from the truth. The God we serve is accessible to us. He is available and attentive. God is near and intent on receiving every prayer that we choose to pray. This is the confidence that we have in approaching God, 1 John 5:14 says, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

So what does it take to get our prayers through the ceiling and into the very presence of Almighty God? When we come before God in humility and sincerity, He hears us. And when we exchange our fleeting, infrequent prayers for passionate, persistent prayers, we will find the provision we need.

My purpose in writing these devotionals is to challenge you to pray boldly and consistently for 30 days. The devotionals that follow are built around three essential pillars: The Reason for Prayer, which explores why God invites us into His presence; Your Responsibility in Prayer, which examines the attitudes and disciplines that position us to pray effectively; and The Results of Prayer, which reveals the transforming power unleashed when prayer becomes our greatest priority.

I pray that God would open the eyes and ears of your heart so that you may truly experience the reason for prayer, your responsibility in prayer, and the results that follow. If you take this 30-day challenge seriously, I truly believe that one month from now your life and the lives of those you love will be changed.

The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous (Proverbs 15:29).

—Jack Graham”