"I struggle in my prayer life" is often the cry of believers. Many have told me, "Prayer has become a ritual to me" or "I have difficulty keeping a consistent prayer time." The average Christian prays only three to four minutes per day, and that's normally at meal times. But the normal Christian prayer life and the typical Christian prayer life are two completely different things.

I've discovered that most Christians have a desire to become a person of prayer but don't know where to begin. Victorious Christian praying is normal Christian praying. There's nothing spooky about it. It doesn't take a great theologian or an outstanding orator to be a great intercessor, because prayer is not communication of the intellect. It's the communion of two hearts - the heart of God and the heart of man. God is not looking for great oratory skills. He's looking for humble hearts. Anyone with a heart that longs to know and love God qualifies to become a part of God's army of intercessors.

In order to become victorious in our prayer lives we must understand the nature of prayer. The first step in victorious Christian praying is an understanding that prayer is God's invitation of grace for each of us to enter into His presence. The Bible describes the throne of God as the "throne of grace" (Heb. 4:16). The only way that we can approach an absolutely holy God is by His grace. When we understand that great truth, then prayer becomes dynamic, and peace and joy flow from our time with God.

Every morning, I stand amazed in the presence of God. When I come into His presence, it's not to get something from Him, although He gives me more than I could ever ask or think of asking. I don't try to twist His arm. Rather, I bend my heart. The purpose in coming into the presence of God is to get to know Him intimately. It's experiencing Him. Prayer is the practical method of developing a love relationship with "our Father, Almighty God, the Prince of Peace, the One who sits upon the throne of the universe." There's nothing boring or ritualistic about that! What an adventure! Getting to know the One who knows everyone and every thing!

When we begin to develop this perspective in prayer, then it becomes joy rather than duty; relationship rather than religion; and victory rather than defeat. Praise and thanksgiving become the norm rather than guilt and grumbling. The chief characteristic of a victorious intercessor is that of love. Because prayer flows from grace, the intercessor basks in the love of God. He experiences love from God, and that is transformed into love for God. Above all else, prayer becomes the means of communication. He communicates His love for us, and we express our love for Him.

Prayer is the communion of two hearts - the heart of God and the heart of man. God's heart is absolutely pure and holy. His heart is the almighty, eternal heart. Our hearts are the tiny, impure, deceitful-above-all-things hearts. Yet, by the blood of Jesus, we are granted entrance into His presence. Wow! That's victorious praying. Just getting to know God - by His grace.