Many of the men in scripture who walked dynamically with God had a vibrant prayer life. They spoke to God and God spoke to them. They did not pray in order to receive revelation, but revelation often occurred as a result of their opening and pouring our heart out to God. Answers to prayer many times come in the form of revelation.

  When things are important or heavy on our hearts prayer is a hallowed response. When Jesus chose twelve to be apostles he spent the entire night before in prayer.

  How did the Lord choose twelve from the multitudes who followed him? It had to be a monumental and momentous decision. After all, these disciples would form the pillars of the church after his ascension. If God gave him the names by revelation, why did Jesus spend an entire night before selecting the twelve, in prayer? Perhaps the Father had revealed them to him during his prayer time the night before.

  When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he departed by ship into a desert place to be alone (Matthew 14:13). John was not only a kinsman, but he had been a beloved friend, as well as a respected prophet of God. Jesus grieved deeply over John's death. Immediately after that apparently short time of communion with God, Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, healing their sick (14:14). That same day, Jesus fed a crowd of 5,000 from five loaves and two fishes. Try to imagine what a busy, full, heavy day it was for him.

  What do you think he did after he sent the crowds away and constrained with disciples to proceed to the other side of the sea without him? It says, "He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone" (14:23). Once again, Jesus rushed back to the Father. He knew the only place to recuperate was in his Father's presence. While there in prayer he saw the disciples having trouble and went unto them walking on the sea. [Now, that took some revelation.]

  Jesus was fully aware of the works he came to do on earth. They'd all been outlined in Scripture: he would heal the sick and afflicted, open the eyes of the blind, comfort the brokenhearted, open prison doors, set captives free, satisfy the hunger and thirst of multitudes. Even though these works had been laid out before him, he always sought his Father's direction moment by moment. When he explained the healing of the father’s son to his disciples who had not been able to help, he said, “This kind cometh not out, but by prayer and fasting.” He did whatever it took to bring deliverance to God’s people, and we can walk in his steps.

  Sometimes Jesus healed "all that were sick" (Matthew 8:16), and at other times, he didn't heal anyone because of people's unbelief (Matthew 13:58). How did Jesus know when to heal and when not to? He heard the voice of his Father, giving him word of knowledge, word of wisdom, and discerning of spirits. We know Christ had this kind of exchange with his Father because he told his disciples, "All things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you" (John 15:15). He also told the religious leaders, "(I have) told you the truth, which I have heard of God” (John 8:40). Jesus' heart was set on seeking the Father daily. He gave God precious quality time in the Word and in prayer, listening to His voice, and ministering to His people. Yes, he was taught and directed by his Father every day, can we expect the same?

  Remember Cornelius, the centurion? God’s testimony of him was that he was "a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always" (Acts 10:2). He was one busy man. Cornelius had 100 soldiers under his immediate command. Yet he prayed in every spare moment. Then one day, while in prayer, the Lord spoke to him. An angel appeared, calling Cornelius by name. The centurion recognized it as the voice of God. He answered, "What is it, Lord?" (10:4). The Lord spoke directly to Cornelius, telling him to find the apostle Peter. He gave him detailed instructions, including names, an address, even the words to say. Meanwhile, Peter was praying on a housetop when "there came a voice to him" (10:13). Again, the Holy Spirit gave detailed instructions: "Peter, you're about to hear some men at the door. Go with them, for I've sent them" (see 10:19-20).

  James 5:17 and 18 address the prayer life of Elijah.

  When we look at his life in I Kings 17 and following and see the way he operated word of knowledge, word of wisdom, and discerning of spirits we understand the synopsis that God gives of them in James 4 much better.

  These men all had fervent prayer lives. They spoke to God, and He spoke back. They knew to Whom they were praying. Their prayer lives grew out of their relationship with God. The power of prayer is not in the words we pray, the place we pray, the way we pray, how loud we pray, how long we pray, or the posture we pray in, but, rather in the One to Whom we pray. It is the clearness of our picture of a lovingly, gracious, and merciful heavenly Father Who is more willing to answer than we are to ask.

  Ephesians 6:18 speaks of “praying always.” (See also Romans 1:9; Ephesians 1:16; Daniel 6:10; Luke 18:1-7; 21:36 Acts 6:4; 10:2; 12:5; Romans 12:12; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; 1Thessalonians 1:9; 2:13; 5:17; 2 Timothy 1:3) To those who are performance-oriented that may seem a bit demanding. However, prayer is not to be repetitious and boring. It is not designed to be a legalistic exercise or a competitive sport, but rather a time of communion with our loving heavenly Father. Prayer doesn’t require bowed heads and folded hands, but those things are OK. Praying always doesn’t mean at the exclusion of all less or how could we then do the other things God asks? Prayer without ceasing is a lifestyle that seeks His will above all and directs our hearts to full-sharing with Him.

  We do not earn revelation by working so hard at prayer. All revelation is grace. What prayer does is fortify our heart in delight to do His will. Our prayer lives are to be conditioned by His Word as we seek the Father’s will to bring His word to pass. When our hearts are so intent on doing His will, He will surely guide us into its fulfillment.