In His Presence

Prayer   Enjoined

In The Old Testament:

1.  Early Man   —
Although Adam talked with God before and after his fall in the Garden, once exiled from it into a fallen world, there is no record he ever communicated with Him again. Unlike other early men who came after him, men who unlike Adam had never seen God, yet lived righteously with the record reflecting their bountiful life and satisfying end, the Bible is conspicously silent in comparsion at Adam's death. (Gen.5:5. Compare to: Gen.5:23-24; Gen.25:8 & Heb.11:8-19; Gen.35:29 & Heb.11:20; Gen.49:33 & Heb.11:21)

It wasn't until after Adam's grandson, Enos, son of Seth, that men began to call on God (Gen.4:26). One can only hope that Adam, he who was most familiar with Him, sought God once again for himself and was instrumental in leading others to Him as well.
2.   A Prophet - Hosea   —  Hosea 14:2
Having experienced the trials and tragedy of a broken marriage, single parenting, and a burdened heart, Hosea, a man of the people, was well qualified through both his experiences and communications with God to lead others to prayer. He was well travelled in its avenue. One can only imagine the hard days and lonely nights this Old Testament man must have suffered. But like David, he knew his help came from only one source: the God of his fathers. He alone could be seen sufficient to overcome any of life's challenges and failures.
3.   A Priest - Eli.   — I Samuel 3:9
Though this early Hebrew priest would fail miserably as an influence with his own children, yet he kept his heart atune to those he ministered to in his every day spiritual duties—whether a childless woman desperately desiring a son, or a young devotee dedicated to the affairs of the church. He was well aware of his own limitations but God's sufficiences. He may have hesitated in his own actions towards others at times, yet he was completely confident in God's faithful consistency to those who sought Him with their whole heart. Therefore, any hesitantcy to direct one searching for answers in their personal lives was totally foriegn to him. In this, he was faithful.
4.   A King - David.   — I Chronicles 16:8-11
As a leader, he is unequalled in setting the example for his people in relying upon God for wisdom and strength, no matter one's station in life. This, David had learned early in life while just a shepherd boy tending his father's sheep on the rocky hills of Judea. He never forgot the God of his youth who delivered his sheep from the lions and Israel's army from Goliath. His recommendation to this God for any circumstance was solid in both his heart and memory.

In The New Testament:

1.   By Our Lord.   —   Luke 18:1; Luke 21:36
2.   By The Apostle Paul.   —   I Thessalonians 5:17; I Timothy 2:8
3.   By Our Lord's Brother, James.   —   James 5:16b