Mary Jane has been writing a newspaper column on the questions asked about prayer as she held interviews with Christians from various Christian fellowships.  The response has been gratifying and helpful to her as well as the readers of her column. The following is one of the questions.

The question was asked by a Christian, "Are some gifted in prayer?

It may seem that some are gifted when we hear them pray in public. We hear words that seem to flow readily; often the words will touch hearts in mysterious ways. Sometimes burdens are lifted, hurts are healed, sins forgiven or God's glory will come down to bless in numerous ways.

The mystery is not only that the words miraculously touch the heart, so much as how God uses one human heart to touch another human heart. But then we remember Jesus' words to his followers before His crucifixion, "Greater works than these shall you do because I go to my Father." Jo. 14:12

The privilege of communicating with our heavenly Father is a gift to all of us. It is the gift of prayer. It is an awesome gift that needs to be honored, used, honed, and developed to enrich the life of the receiver. We must ask ourselves, "How will I get to know this great God I serve if I fail to talk to Him with some regularity? You won't. So begin today. It's an exciting journey that leads to a personal relationship with our living God.

People are not gifted in the area of prayer. If, however, we follow God's commands, we will practice the spiritual disciplines of Bible reading, prayer, meditation, listening, repenting, studying, praising, and worship. It is through these disciplines that we draw nearer and nearer to the heart of God.

As one draws nearer to God, He draws nearer to us. Prayer prayed by the mature believer may, at times, seem gifted. It is called "infused prayer" as the one praying has, over time, reached the point where he or she is allowing God to pray through them. The more we pray, the more we open ourselves to being "prayed through" by God. This prayer may sound, to the observer, like gifted prayer. Awe grips the one praying when this happens. Absolute awe! But then--we serve an awesome God!

Mary Jane Fischer is an interdenominational speaker and retired United Methodist minister. She is author of "Praying Through First John" WinePress and "Praying With Peter" Gazelle Press. Her email: geomj@shawneelink.net or admin@scripturalprayers.com