Foreword
For over five years now, Pastor Dick Green has faithfully hosted a daily online prayer gathering through The River in a Desert Ministry. Rain or shine, whether few or many, the prayer line remains open — not just as a meeting place, but as a divine appointment with God.
CLICK HERE TO DOWN LOAD COMPLETE EBOOK
It’s not just a Zoom link; it’s a lifeline.
It’s not just a habit; it’s a Holy Spirit-led movement.
And it’s open to you.
Each day at 12:00 Noon Central Time, men and women from all walks of life join together to lift their voices in unity, interceding for one another, their families, and the nations. Miracles have been witnessed. Burdens have been lifted. Lives have been changed. Prayers have been answered.
If you’ve been longing for breakthrough…
If your heart is weary…
If you feel like your prayers are hitting a ceiling…
Then come. Join us today.
🔗 Click here to join the daily prayer group:
👉 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81680738873
Over the years, Pastor Green has stood in the gap for people he’s never met face-to-face. He has wept with the broken, rejoiced with the delivered, and taught through both silence and storm. He has prayed — not because it’s easy, but because it’s essential. His example is one that inspired this entire eBook series.
As you read each page of this book, may your faith be stirred. May your heart burn again for intimate connection with your Heavenly Father. And may you not only learn about prayer—but practice it.
But please, don’t walk this journey alone.
Come into the presence of the Lord with others who believe.
🙏 Join our daily prayer call today — be strengthened, be heard, and see what God will do:
👉 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81680738873
If there’s one thing Pastor Dick Green would say to you right now, it would be this:
“God answers prayer. I’ve seen it too many times to doubt it now.”
So come boldly. Come believing.
Come join us — and discover what prayer was always meant to be.
📖 Table of Contents
“The Foundations of Prayer: Building a Powerful Connection with God”
Series 1 · eBook 1
Foreword
Pastor Dick Green and the Daily River in a Desert Prayer Ministry
Chapter 1: What Is Prayer, Really?
Understanding prayer as personal connection, not just communication.
Chapter 2: The Purpose of Prayer
Why we pray — aligning with God’s will rather than just presenting our requests.
Chapter 3: The God Who Hears
God listens. Always. Learn the truth of His attentiveness to your voice.
Chapter 4: The Right Heart Posture in Prayer
Approaching God in humility, faith, and reverence — what the Bible teaches.
Chapter 5: Barriers to Effective Prayer
Identifying the blockages: unforgiveness, doubt, sin, and selfish motives.
Chapter 6: Faith That Moves God
Praying with unwavering belief — the kind of faith that God honors.
Chapter 7: Starting (or Restarting) Your Prayer Life
Practical tools to cultivate a consistent, Spirit-led prayer habit.
Closing Encouragement & Invitation
Preview of eBook 2: “Keys to Answered Prayer: Unlocking Heaven’s Response”
🔗 Join Our Daily Prayer Group — You Are Always Welcome
🙏 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81680738873
Chapter 1: What Is Prayer, Really?
Understanding Prayer as Personal Connection, Not Just Communication
Many people think of prayer as a religious duty—a spiritual box to check. But prayer is not about performance; it’s about relationship. It’s the sacred line of communication between you and your Creator. It’s not merely words spoken into the air. It’s a living conversation with the living God.
Too often, we reduce prayer to formulas. “Say this many words,” or “pray this type of prayer at this hour,” or “repeat after me.” And while there are biblical patterns and disciplines that can guide us, prayer was never meant to be mechanical. It is, and always has been, intimate.
🌿 Prayer Is the Language of Love
At its core, prayer is like a child speaking to their loving Father. It’s raw. It’s real. It’s relational.
God desires truth in the inward parts (Psalm 51:6). That means He doesn’t want rehearsed speeches—He wants your heart.
You don’t have to impress God. You don’t have to “sound holy.” He already knows you. And He’s inviting you to come boldly, just as you are.
“The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.”
—Psalm 145:18
Think about that for a moment. The same God who created the heavens and the earth wants to hear your voice.
✨ Biblical Examples of Real Prayer
Some of the most powerful prayers in the Bible were unpolished, unfiltered cries of the heart:
- Hannah, weeping and praying silently in the temple, asking God for a child (1 Samuel 1).
- David, pouring out his soul in the Psalms—sometimes praising, sometimes pleading, sometimes repenting.
- Jesus, in the garden of Gethsemane, praying with such intensity that His sweat became like drops of blood (Luke 22:44).
These prayers weren’t pretty. But they were powerful.
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
—James 5:16
🙏 Prayer Is Two-Way Communication
Here’s something that’s often forgotten: Prayer is not just speaking—it’s listening.
So many times we pray and then rush off, never waiting to hear what the Spirit might say in return. But God speaks in the stillness. He impresses thoughts on our hearts. He brings Scripture to mind. He leads us with His peace.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
—John 10:27
Learn to linger. Give God room to speak. That’s when prayer becomes a dialogue, not a monologue.
🌊 Why You Must Rediscover Real Prayer Now
We are living in dangerous and deceptive times. Many are discouraged. Many feel spiritually dry. But God is calling His people back to prayer—real prayer—the kind that doesn’t just go through the motions but touches heaven and transforms the earth.
And it begins with you.
If you’ve ever wondered:
- “Why don’t I hear from God?”
- “Why do my prayers feel powerless?”
- “How can I get closer to Him?”
Then start here. Start with the truth: Prayer is your lifeline.
📢 Your Invitation: Join the Prayer That Changes Things
Every day at 12:00 Noon Central Time, Pastor Dick Green leads a powerful and simple online prayer group through The River in a Desert Ministry. People from around the world join in faith—praying, interceding, and watching God move.
Do you need healing? Peace? Direction? Deliverance?
Don’t just read about prayer—step into it. Come and pray with us. Come and receive.
👉 Click here to join our daily prayer call:
🔗 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81680738873
There is no cost. No pressure. Just open hearts before God.
In the next chapter, we’ll dive deeper into why we pray—unpacking the purpose of prayer beyond petitions. But before you turn the page, will you accept the invitation?
Don’t wait for a crisis to pray.
Come meet with God today.
Chapter 2: The Purpose of Prayer
Why We Pray — Aligning with God’s Will, Not Just Presenting Our Wants
If prayer were simply a way to get what we want, God would be nothing more than a vending machine. But prayer is not about bending God’s will to match ours—it’s about aligning our hearts with His.
Yes, God invites us to bring our needs before Him. Yes, He wants to bless, heal, provide, and deliver. But the greater purpose of prayer is relationship, not results.
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
—Matthew 6:9–10
🧭 Prayer Is About Alignment, Not Just Asking
When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He didn’t start with requests. He started with reverence: “Hallowed be Thy name.” He started with surrender: “Thy will be done.”
Prayer was never intended to be a one-sided list of demands. It’s an invitation to divine alignment—to become one with God’s heart, His mind, and His mission.
That’s why time in prayer should always include:
- Worship – honoring God for who He is
- Listening – allowing space for God to speak
- Surrender – submitting your will to His
🌿 Jesus: The Ultimate Example of Purposeful Prayer
No one modeled prayer better than Jesus. He was constantly withdrawing to spend time with the Father. Before choosing His disciples, He prayed. Before performing miracles, He prayed. Before facing the cross, He prayed.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus offered one of the most raw, human prayers in all of Scripture:
“O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
—Matthew 26:39
Even in His anguish, Jesus yielded to the greater plan of God.
That’s the heartbeat of true prayer. Not “Lord, give me what I want,” but “Lord, shape my heart so I want what You give.”
🕊️ What Happens When We Pray for God’s Will?
When we align with God’s will in prayer:
- Our anxiety decreases because we trust His plan.
- Our discernment increases as He gives wisdom and guidance.
- Our character is refined, because we learn obedience and humility.
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.”
—1 John 5:14
Yes, God wants to give you good gifts. But more than that, He wants you to know His good heart.
🔥 Real Power Is Found in Purposeful Prayer
When you begin to pray with the right purpose, you will:
- See answers you didn’t expect
- Experience peace you didn’t earn
- Discover joy that doesn’t depend on circumstances
Because you’re not praying for your kingdom. You’re praying for His.
🙏 Join the Prayer That Aligns Heaven and Earth
If you want to experience the power of praying in God’s will, come and pray with us. Pastor Dick Green leads a daily online prayer group where the focus is not just asking—but surrendering, listening, and aligning with God’s plan.
You are invited. You are welcome. You are needed.
👉 Join our daily prayer call now:
🔗 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81680738873
There’s no requirement—just a hunger for truth and a heart open to God.
In Chapter 3, we’ll explore a powerful truth that will change the way you pray forever: “The God Who Hears.”
But before you go there, pause and ask:
“Father, not my will, but Yours be done.”
That’s where transformation begins.
🌟 Unlock God-Given Potential and True Joy
Are you ready to live with purpose, peace, and unshakable confidence? The Success & Happiness Formula is a life-changing program designed to help you overcome fear, renew your mind, and walk boldly in your calling. It’s the perfect companion to your prayer life—offering clarity, motivation, and spiritual insight rooted in timeless principles. Begin your transformation today!
👉 Click here to learn more