Not often. Not often enough. Surely not always sincerely. But everyone prays sometimes. The idea of God is built into the human heart. We may want to deny it, but the built in conscience of a man is evidence that we know there is a God. When we allow our selfish desires to dull our conscience so that we come to ignore Him, or even deny that we believe He exists, we still have not erased from our inner self the thought that there is a God and that we need Him.

Thank God that there is One upon whom we can call at any hour of any day, at any time in our lives. Perhaps that is not even thought of as prayer which comes in the heat of exasperation, or in the anguish of tragedy. And second thoughts, especially in a believer, often come as apologies to the God of heaven because we have neglected Him so long, or the exasperation or even the tragedy may make us misunderstand Him or forget just Who He is.

Good people pray. And praying makes people better, praying, that is, which comes from the heart. Praying in exasperation, or in tragedy may not always come from the heart. But we are assured that God is always there when we need Him. This will not always be true. If we have neglected Him, considered our own conveniences and desires, and ignored His call to us, then He may disregard our petition for a time, giving us opportunity to weigh our neglect. Be it far from me to disparage anybody's approach to God. Still, I must point out that God is very mindful of the reason for our coming to Him.

Is there such a thing as selfish prayer? Yes, one may ask for things only because he want s them for himself, not for God's glory. Such is hypocritical. Even praying may be hypocritical. Just how serious can we be when we ask for victory in a football game? It all depends on just why we want what we ask for. God is not selfish, but we must always put Him first. Also, we must be mindful that there are conditions attached to most, if not all, promises in the Bible.

If God knows our needs, and He does, why does he tell us to call upon Him? (Ps. 50:15). It is because our prayers are a form of praise, of man's faith, and of our conviction that we are helpless but He is able. A prayer is an alms offered to God when we are in trouble and have nothing else to give. He does not ignore it. The answer may not come instantly. It may not come in the form we were asking. But God is always aware of us. He is mindful of our needs and His answer may be a substitution which is worth far more than if we were granted our wish.

Wish it is, many times, and God is not simply a Santa Claus to supply our childish wants. He is not a sugar daddy to baby us in our whims and fancies. He understands what is best for us and is responding to us in ways to enable us to understand His desires for us. He knows how we will receive His gifts, hence may even withhold one until we will have a right heart in the matter so that we will use it rightly.

Ps 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me]: (AV). Even for a believer to cherish iniquity in his heart, then the Lord will not listen. One may pray in error, not mindful of his weakness, but if there is not the answer we sought we may be sure it was either because the answer would not have glorified Him or it would not hav

It is certainly not surprising that one of the disciples asked the Lord to teach them to pray Lk., 11:1; Mt. 6:9-13). Jesus Himself prayed often and long. The rabbis taught men forms of prayer. We need to know how to pray, what to pray for, when and where to pray.

The surprising lesson for us is that men feel the need. Is it not one of the many evidences in the creation that God desires His creatures to keep in touch with Him and draw nearer and nearer. He even says "Seek the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near" (Isa. 55:6). While every human heart has a built in leaning toward God, man does not always respond properly, either because he cannot, or because his life and training have dulled his senses or destroyed the inclination.