Prayer to the child of God is what a lifeline is to the deep sea diver. It is the channel through which we commune with God. If we wish to live in the Spirit, we must draw our life from our heavenly Father in ongoing prayer, just as the deep sea diver draws his breath through his lifeline.

Prayer is listening and responding to the Spirit of God. In Genesis 28:12 Jacob had a dream. "He dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!"

Metaphorically, the angels are conveying our needs to God and returning with God-given answers to our prayers. Jesus declared himself the fulfillment of Jacob's ladder when He told Nathanael, “from now on you will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." (John 1:51).  In other words, Jesus is now our connection to the Father through which our prayers are answered. Jesus invites us to ask the Father in His name, and He will give it to us  "Most assuredly, I say to you, What ever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you." (John 16:23).

It is like a check that requires two signatures before it is honored. Jesus has already affixed His name to it. He only awaits our signature through prayer to access the riches in the bank of heaven.