If you have business with a friend, you might not attend to it
the children of God. Furthermore, you have an advocate with the Father. Did children ever need an advocate with their father? But for our strong consolation, God has provided both His immutable promises and the intercession of our High Priest. In His name, we have confident access to the Father.
3. Do not let God's knowledge of your needs stop you from saying it. If you have business with a friend, you might think, "There is no need to trouble myself about it; they already know what I want and desire." It is true that all your desire is before God; He knows your needs and burdens. However, He still wants to hear them from you. He has promised relief, but His promise must be sought after. As it says in Ezekiel 36:37, I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them. While your prayers do not provide God with new information, they do honour Him. Although your words cannot compel Him to show mercy, prayer can prepare your heart to receive His mercy. Asking is a simple and reasonable condition for receiving His blessings: Ask, and it shall be given you (Matthew 7:7). Christ asked the blind men, What will ye that I shall do unto you? (Matthew 20:32). Though He knew what they wanted, He required them to state their petition. In the same way, those who touch the top of the golden sceptre must be ready to declare their request.
4. Do not let other business stop you from saying it. If you have business with a friend, you might not attend to it because you do not have the time or because you have other priorities that seem more urgent. But this should never be the case with your business with God. This is the one thing needful (Luke 10:42), and all other things must take second place. It is
not necessary to your happiness that you achieve greatness in the world or accumulate wealth, but it is absolutely necessary that you make peace with God, obtain His favour, and remain in His love. No worldly business can excuse you from attending to God, and in fact, the more pressing your worldly concerns, the more you need to turn to God in prayer for His blessing upon them. The closer you keep to prayer and to God in prayer, the more your affairs will prosper.
May I encourage you now to let God frequently hear from you. Let Him hear your voice, even if it is just the voice of your breathing (Thou hast heard my voice; hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry - Lamentations 3:56)—this is a sign of life. Even if it is the voice of your groanings, so weak that they cannot be uttered (The Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered - Romans 8:26). Speak to Him, even if it is in broken words, as Hezekiah did: Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter (Isaiah 38:14). Speak to Him often—He is always within hearing. Listen to Him as He speaks to you, and let that guide everything you say to Him. Just as when writing an answer to a business letter, you lay it before you for reference, so must God's Word guide your desires and form the foundation of your expectations in prayer. You cannot expect Him to graciously listen to what you say if you turn a deaf ear to what He says to you.
You can see how often you need to speak with God, and therefore it is vital to grow in your relationship with Him. Be careful not to do anything that might displease Him, and strengthen your dependence on the Lord Jesus, through whom alone you have bold access to the Father. Keep your heart prepared for prayer, and let all your words be pure and sincere, so that you are fit to call on the name of the Lord (Then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may