In the great law courts of the world every accused man can have a friend. However grave the crime of which complaint has been laid, however mean the station of the prisoner or alleged offender, there is someone who will speak on his behalf. The defending counsel will help. He is fully accustomed to the ways of the court and knows every possible way of escape from the punishment of the law. He knows the accused and has his confidence.

It is the same in other walks of life. Everyone delights in a friend, one who will always be loyal and true, in fair weather and in foul, and see to it that the name of friendship is preserved. In the great marathon races which have taken place over the centuries the runners have been urged to success and succored on the way by those who have helped them by the wayside or have run part of the way with them ministering food and inspiration.

He is a lonely man who has no friend and he is in sore straits when his hour of need comes and he has no helper. Very few can endure utter isolation without deep effects in the mind.

God knows this need. Nothing is plainer in the Bible than that God will provide strength and comfort in every adversity if a man will but trust in God's ways and strive to be obedient. Some of the greatest names given to God in the Bible are not technical names which theologians might delight in, but simple names which every man can understand. Here are some of them:

The Lord is my rock and my fortress.

The Lord is my deliverer, my shield.

The Lord is my keeper and my refuge.

The Lord is my strength and power.

The Lord is my light.

The Lord is my shepherd.

The Lord is my helper and deliverer.

God is love.

The mightiness of God draws near to us in ways of personal friendship and help. He is a comfort to the oppressed and strength to the weary. He is eyes to the blind and a guide to those who do not know the way.

It is this relationship which the Lord God is desirous of creating. He does not want to be a God afar off but a God near at hand. Anyone who reads the Bible will discover that those who have loved God throughout the ages have been sure of one thing: God cares. The man who draws near to God in faith and takes the step of faith in the waters of baptism has promise of God's personal care in terms which no one can misunderstand.

"I will be a Father to you" [2 Corinthians 6:18].

-- that is God's word to the one who leaves his old way of life and commits himself to God. A Father. An everlasting Father. A Father who can do all things. Everyone of those names of God -- and a host more -- which we have just read will be true for the one to whom God becomes a Father.

There is one aspect of being in the family of God which provides great comfort. Wherever one of God's children might be and whatever the time of day or night, or in whatsoever circumstance he finds himself, he can speak to God and be certain that God will hear him. This is the priceless privilege of prayer. One man who had enjoyed this opportunity described God in these words:

"O thou that hearest prayer." [Psalms 65:2].

What a beautiful description! When God replied to the prayer of a man in great distress, whose cry had ascended in faith, He said:

"I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold I will heal thee." [2 Kings 20:5].

The greatest men of the Bible -- and those are the greatest men who have ever lived -- were men who learned the true value of prayer. They poured out their hearts to God in joy and in sorrow, in thankfulness and in adversity, in remembrance of His goodness and in seeking for help in time of need. God heard them and in unmistakable ways granted them His blessing.

The whole life of Jesus is touched with His communion with God in prayer. Time and again we see Him alone both at night and in the day seeking His Father's guidance and help. In the great turning points of His life we discover that prayer lay at the heart of things -- he prayed at His baptism, during his temptation in the wilderness, before He healed Lazarus or fed the thousands, on the mount of transfiguration, in the garden of Gethsemane and finally upon the cross. It is small wonder that His disciples once asked: Lord, teach us to pray. He taught them. When He had gone to heaven we find the apostles meeting regularly in prayer and praise, confident that God would hear them.

The victory of Jesus over sin and His ascension to heaven have provided a new and most gracious blessing. He is called our High Priest, our Mediator or Middleman. Listen:

"Wherefore in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people!" [Hebrews 2:17].

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." [Hebrews 4:15].

Jesus is our personal representative in heaven. He is there on our behalf and is the channel of our prayers to God. There is no one who could better stand for us: He knows all our temptations and understands the sufferings of this life. Every breath of prayer is caught by Him and given power as by a faithful advocate and representative with God. This is the ceaseless blessing, always available, for those who accept the way of life in Jesus.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may find grace to help in time of need." [Hebrews 4:16].

The Lord Jesus Christ watches over his disciples and cares for them. He knows their every need and temptation, and knowing He is able to help when they pray.

The apostle Paul who had been surprised at the nearness of Christ to His followers has written earnestly about prayer. It became his whole life and transformed his thinking. Jesus responded to his prayers in ways which amazed the faithful Paul. In writing about it on one occasion he said.

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think . . . " [Ephesians 3:20].

"Above all that we ask or think." Ponder the greatness of that.

Prayer is the link with headquarters, the instantaneous line of communication between the soldier of faith and his Captain. The link is never broken from the Captain's side. He has said: I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. "Call unto me and I will answer" is the certain promise. "Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you" is the faithful word.

God has always been willing to hear the prayers of those who believe in Him. It did not require Jesus to make God hear. God has provided Jesus for us to tell us how willing He is to listen to our prayers. Jesus is the God-given helper to lift us up in our hour of need.

Prayer is communion with God. It is well that we learn how to frame our prayers. Let us not be mistaken: God is not seeking flowery words and fine phrases. He is seeking minds which know His ways and fashion their prayers accordingly. A man who reads his Bible regularly will learn how to pray acceptably.

Paul rejoiced in the limitless care of God. His prayers took hold of all the blessings which God was holding out for him, and he has told us about them. He looks into the great courtroom where we stand in need of help and says:

"What shall we say then to these things? if God be for us, who can be against us? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?" [Romans 8:21, 23].

Here is a friend indeed. God speaks for us: God is our helper and our shield, our advocate and deliverer. Jesus has been provided to do this great work for God on our behalf.

"It is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." [Romans 8:34].

If God and His Son are for us who then could possibly be against us -- and win? "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" [Romans 8:35].

"Nay in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." [Romans 8:37-39].

Now read for yourself: Luke 18:1-14; Philippians 4:4-9; Psalm 130.

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