Maybe you can answer some of my questions about the Bible. I have been to so many different churches as I travel around that I get confused. For example, is it wrong to pray to God. I thought when I learned there was a God and started going to the Seventh Day Adventist Church there in my hometown, that we prayed to God, but now people say to pray to Jesus?

As I look at this question, a number of thoughts run through my mind on the matter of praying. The first is motivation. God does not look on our outward appearance/performance as much as our inner motivation. If we are merely going through the words because they are written and/or expected, then we are in the wrong ballpark. Jesus had issues with the people who were "religious" and merely performing. He chided the people who prayed in public to show off their "spirituality". In similar manner he castigated the pharisees who made a show of their religiosity. God looks on the heart of the person and not the outward appearance.

Secondly, Jesus gives us a model prayer. When the disciples had questions about praying ("Teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1), "When you pray, say: 'Father (or Our Father)....'") I think the thing that Jesus is driving home to us is that prayer is relational. It is between a Father/child. We are able to access God as we would be able to access a loving father. [I know that some people have not experienced good family relationships, but in our hearts we know what a father should be like.]

God desires to have a relationship with us. He desires that we know him (not about Him), that we come before Him in prayer--just talking it over with Him, and that we listen to what He has to say to us through His Word, the Bible.

“...in Jesus’ name”. To me, this is a recognition that as a beliver our salvation is in and through Jesus. He is the one who secured our salvation, he is the one who sustains us; he is the one who is our hope. 1 Timothy 2:5 tells us that there is ONE MEDIATOR between God and mankind and that is Jesus.

More importantly is the instruction of Jesus. It is shortly before his crucifixion and he is giving to his disciples his “last will and testament” (John 13-17). John emphasizes a number of times that Jesus told his disciples to pray in his name:

I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me* for anything, I will do it (John 14:13, 14).

You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name (John 15:16).

On that day you will ask nothing of me.* Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.* Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete (John 16:23, 24). ‘I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father. On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. (John 16:25, 26).

Matthew 5^{43 -47}"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. –Jesus

I truly believe that God can work miracles. Maybe, even the miracle of changing our hearts to see and do his will. Jesus lived in an oppressive environment ruled by the Romans, yet He never once called for the overthrow of the government/ruler. From His birth Herod dogged Him, through out his ministry the powers-at-be were after Him, and upon His death the religious segment and the governing ruler sanctioned his death. Yet, he did not cry out for elimination—but that they come to the Truth!

As believers should we be crying out to God for our tax breaks and our comforts? or should we be praying for a change of heart , insight, and commitment of our leaders? Most of our prayers are not for God but are for us! We tend to skip over “Thy kingdom come” that Jesus told us to pray when he taught the disciples (and us!).

I guess the question that I ask myself is "Does God want me to pray that the one we oppose be eliminated (that is, lose the election) or that his heart be comforted to heart of Jesus? Since both candidates profess to be Christians, then it is incumbent that we pray for whoever wins!