To recap:  When you pray, the Spirit helps you by interceding for you in accordance with God's will--and his prayers on your behalf are always answered.

So pray continually, knowing that God will always give you what is best.  Prayer positions you to receive his grace as his Spirit molds you into the image of Jesus.  God will do everything short of violating human freedom to answer your prayers for yourself and others.  And eternity will be different because you prayed.

Ask the Spirit to fill, control, and empower you every day.  Ask him to teach you to pray and trust him to intercede as you pray.  And he will, always.

R. A. Torrey was pastor of Moody Church in Chicago before embarking on a global evangelistic ministry which saw more than 102,000 people accept Christ in just the first eighteen months.  He knew something about ministry and the power of God.

He said, "If anyone should ask me, 'What is the great secret of holy living?' I would say at once, 'Living in the Holy Spirit.'  If anyone should ask me, 'What is the great secret of effective service for Jesus Christ,' I should reply at once, 'Serving in the Holy Spirit.'  If anyone should ask me, 'What is the one greatest secret of profitable Bible study?' I would reply, 'Studying in the Holy Spirit.'  And if anyone should ask me, what was the one great all-inclusive secret of prevailing prayer, I should reply, 'Praying in the Holy Spirit.'  It is the prayer that the Holy Spirit inspires that God the Father answers" (R. A. Torrey, The Power of Prayer and the Prayer of Power [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1971 (1924)] 137).

Israel's Prime Minister Menachem Begin was visiting President Ronald Reagan in the White House, when he noticed a gold phone on the president's desk.

"What is that for?" he asked.  "It's my direct line to God," Reagan replied.  "How much does it cost to make a call?" Begin wanted to know.  "Ten thousand dollars, but it's worth every cent."

Later in the year Reagan was in Begin's office in Israel.  He saw a gold phone on the prime minister's desk.  "What is that for?" he asked.  "It's my direct line to God."  "How much does it cost to make a call?"  "Ten cents--it's a local call."

Your next call is free.  The Lord of the universe is waiting on the other end of the line.  Why do you need to pick up the phone this morning?