Scriptures: 1 John 5:14-15, Romans 5:2, 8:27, Hebrews 4:16, 11:6, Matthew 7:11, Colossians 1:9, John 7:17, Isaiah 65:24, 30:18

Though God is powerful, glorious, majestic and mysterious--far beyond our comprehension--He is also approachable. We can talk to God in prayer and know that He hears us and answers us. In a Gallup Poll the vast majority of people--91% of women and 85% of men--reported that they pray reguarly. But, interstingly, only 15% said they receive regular and definite answers to their prayers. If God does hear us and people are praying--why is there such a large disconnect?

In this message, Dr. Merritt examines the powerful gift of prayer, and how we can know that God does indeed listen to and answer our petitions. He not only wants us to pray, but He wants us to pray in such a fashion that we will indeed expect, and get, an answer. It is one thing to emotionally experience prayer; it is still another thing to verbally express prayer. But we must learn to spiritually expect prayer to be answered.

"The prayer that connects with God is, first of all, confident; confident that God will hear and that God will answer. It is also transparent. It is willing to talk to God about anything--big things, little things, great things, small things, not just some things or most things, but all things. When you pray God is not nearly as concerned that you pray eloquently, nor even that you pray fervently, as much as He is that you pray confidently. We must be confident that we have acceptance with God. We must be confident that we will get an answer from God." --Dr. Merritt

Keywords: God, Jehovah, real, prayer, praying, intercession, confidence, delight, intimacy, President of the United States, letter, office, email, desire, God's Will, seach, heart, speak, listen, know, direct, Dr. Ed Solomon, Florida Baptist Witness, tavern