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Saturday, February 19, 2022

The Value of Self-Defense Conditioning

 

  • Author Mary Beth Santmier
If you are wondering if it is possible for someone who is not a talented athlete to be effective in self defense, you are not alone.
Lots of self-defense authorities will be quick to point out you don't have to be in good shape at all to protect yourself. The aim of taking a self-defense class is to develop techniques that will help you survive against those who are stronger than you. (Continued below....)

(...Continued.....)Nonetheless, we must not ignore the value of conditioning for self-defense. You might be able to defend yourself when you are in terrible shape, but you will be a lot safer if you are in excellent shape. A complete diligence toward self-defense includes as much conditioning work as possible.

It's been said there are two common explanations why fights are lost. There are occasions when you'll basically be overpowered despite your technique. The more you do to greatly improve your physical endurance and your pure strength, the less likely this is. Of course, without good technique, there'll always be individuals out there who can overcome you. Self-defense conditioning is just about considerably improving your odds of success.

You could be wondering then if you ought to be spending hours daily at the gym. The best value of your time is in fact to spend just a fixed, responsible amount of time on conditioning. Just 20 minutes of rigorous exercise each day will considerably increase your chances in a physical confrontation. This will provide you with extra strength in a moment of struggle. As your main concern is to guard yourself in a difficult situation, the improvements you gain through such a very simple workout could prove life saving. Don't forget this fact when you feel a bit exhausted and are not all that keen on riding the stationary bike one day.

There is another benefit to be gotten here. You might find you are very fatigued every time you work out. It's only natural that if you're this out of shape, you're winded during your self-defense exercises. That truly will ruin a lot of the fun that can be had in class. Additionally, it might cut the legs off of your ability to learn as you become so involved with trying to catch your breath, much of the class material is missed. So along with making you an even better fighter when required, conditioning will improve the quality your self-defense exercises. The better you are able to physically master your self-defense practice, the more benefits you are going to get. It means your potential to safeguard yourself will increase immeasurably.

You don't have to make physical fitness a career pursuit to become proficient in the area of self defense, but it helps to be fit. You'll find that as your fitness gets better, your self-defense class performance is going to improve. While this takes place, your feeling of security will improve.

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US Sports Basketball: How the point guard is basketball's quarterback

 

  • By Craig Haley
  •  


    What has changed in the NCAA Basketball Tournaments that the most successful teams were traditionally the ones full of veteran players. Today, many of the most talented players are freshmen instead of seniors. What hasn’t changed is the importance of having a strong point guard. No team wants to be caught without one – the so-called “quarterback” on the court, leading the flow of action on both ends.

    Master Softball

    The positions in basketball are numbered one through five, and, appropriately, a point guard is the one whom others follow. That’s the mindset a youth basketball coach wants to bring out. A skilled point guard makes everybody’s job easier because his decision making and leadership are an extension of the coach on the floor. He is adept at handling the ball, setting up teammates, scoring, directing and exploiting weaknesses in the opposition. Indeed, a Peyton Manning in gym shorts.

    Development

    To develop a point guard, a coach wants to instill confidence in him, always suggesting how his leadership runs both the offensive and defensive sets. Teammates will respond to how a point guard displays a relentless style in practice, so a coach who develops the mindset of his point guard is basically doing the same for his entire team.

    While some athletes will lead vocally or through example, the point guard has to do both. On offense, he is the main dribbler, so the ball will be in his hands the most. It’s pivotal that he dribbles with his head up so he can see the floor in front of him and recognize the best way for his team to score a basket. He calls out the plays to signal what should be happening. It’s his job to set up his teammates through his passing, so he often leads his team in assists. But his ability to score points on jump shots and drives to the basket provides points, too, so he can draw defenders away from his offensive teammates.

    Mechanics

    Defensively, the point guard is the great communicator. He’s demanding intensity out of his teammates and disrupting the opposing team. His aggressive play will draw the same out of his teammates more than a coach yelling instruction from the sideline will.

    Drills in practice will improve any young player. Some have the potential to bring out the best in a point guard. From the first day of practice through the playoffs, a coach must stress muscle memory and proper mechanics. He can turn a simple full-court dribbling drill into a two-way teaching tool.

    If a young point guard constantly uses his or her dominant hand to dribble the ball, work on the opposite hand. Have your "quarterback" use his opposite hand to dribble from the end line to midcourt and back. Don’t stop there, either. He immediately should turn and dribble to the far end line and back. With the opposite hand! The dribbler has to keep his head up to see the entire floor. If he struggles at first, slow the action and have him dribble in place to gain a better feel for the ball while his head is up. Keep it low and by his side. As he progresses, have him do a full-court up-and-back dribble against a defender.

    Defensively

    The defender on the up-and-back dribble will gain as much as the dribbler. Have the dribbler go forward with a diagonal dribble. The defender has to drop-step and slide with the dribbler. Knees should be bent with balance on the toes, not the heels, and the eyes should be directed toward the belly because the ball will be on that plain. The defender’s palms should be up, and if he goes for a steal, he should tap the ball from underneath, not from above, where he often will slap the dribbler’s hand and cause a foul. The dribbler wants to pick and choose his opportunity for a steal. He’s more trying to slow the dribbler and force him into a mistake. You want your point guard to be more focused than the dribbler.

    Guess what? This simple drill is working on conditioning, too. Your point guard should want to outlast all the other players on the court. He’s the quarterback, he sets the tone.

    More basketball articles 

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    Friday, February 18, 2022

    Concealed Carry: No Shots Fired in 9 of 10 Defensive Gun Uses (DGUs)

     


    Although defensive gun uses (DGU) happen every day, they often go unnoticed. Many people are surprised to learn that in 95% of DGUs, the victim doesn't fire a shot. Let's discuss the implications of these numbers and what it means for the everyday carrier.

    carrying an everyday carry gun Sig P365

    How many DGUs per year —

    Multiple studies (18 or so that I know of) put the number of annual defensive gun uses in the United States between 100,000 and 3.6 million. So if you throw out the highest and lowest survey numbers, the average sits at about 2 million instances where someone uses a firearm in self-defense.


    No matter what number you accept, it's clear people use firearms every day to defend life.

    One of the many reasons the actual number of DGUs is hard to nail down is that around 95% don't involve a single fired shot. Because of this, most go unreported to police. The media barely covers incidents where someone shoots a gun in self-defense. They certainly don't report on DGUs with no shots fired.

    If you're interested in reading more about the research behind these DGU numbers, consider this 2019 book from author John Lott called “More Guns, Less Crime.”

    We researched the topic of armed citizens and their effectiveness in limiting the number of people killed in mass shootings. Here is a link to what we found.

    armed citizen statistics

    Practical Considerations for “no-shoot” DGUs —

    For simplicity, I'll use the term “no-shoot” DGUs to describe a DGU where the defender doesn't shoot.

    We should always have a self-defense mindset. We can prepare and anticipate, but ultimately, we react to a deadly threat.

    If we bring a gun into the fight at the wrong time, not only can it be a legal problem, but it could unnecessarily escalate the situation. Let me explain.

     

    Drawing the gun to deescalate –

     

    woman defends against attacker

    Defensive skills that don't involve a firearm are important, even if you carry a gun.

    Imagine an argument over a parking space, where the person yells aggressively but doesn't have the means or ability to complete any of the multiple threats he screams. So you draw your everyday carry (EDC) gun in hopes the sight of your handgun will cause him to go away.

    At best, you're on very shaky legal grounds with the level of force you're using against a foul-mouthed agitator. The unarmed person isn't scared, and displaying the gun angers them more. The incident turns physical when the person shoves you.

    Shooting someone who simply yells and pushes you will be tough to defend.

    If you don't shoot the person, you have to defend yourself with one hand while you hold a handgun in the other. It's not an easy task.

    You don't want to be the defender in either of those situations.

    Michael Drejka shooting

    We know how things turned out for Michael Drejka.

    Drawing the gun gets you shot –

    But that isn't even the worst that could happen. In the above situation, let's say you draw your firearm, knowing you are not justified legally to use deadly force but hope it deescalates the problem. If the other person also has a gun and sees you draw a firearm, they may use deadly force against you.

    The takeaway should be if you draw your firearm, it should only be when you are legally justified to use deadly force. If displaying the gun deescalates the incident, fantastic, but that shouldn't be the reason for drawing it.

    Legal Considerations for “no-shoot” DGUs —

    I often hear everyday carriers make some astoundingly misguided statements about defensive gun uses. Unfortunately, the comments are based on or can lead to morally and legally questionable decisions on when to press the trigger.

    reporting no shoot dgu to police

    You better shoot –

    The first mistruth is that “if you draw a gun, you better shoot because if you don't, police will charge you with brandishing.”

    Let's stop and think of think about this statement for a second.

    If you drew your firearm because you perceived an objectively reasonable deadly threat, but when you drew the gun, that person stopped being a deadly threat, how would shooting the gun be more legal than not shooting? In other words, under no circumstance should the justification for shooting your handgun be, “well, I drew it and didn't want to get charged for brandishing, so I shot even though the person was no longer a threat.”

    How ridiculous does that sound?

    Don't get sued –

    Let me ask an honest question. Under what reason could it be legal or moral to kill someone to keep them from suing you? Of course, no reasonable person would find a single justification. But countless people think they should shoot someone because “dead people don't sue.” I wish I were making this up, but numerous comments on social media prove otherwise.

    law of self defense book

    Sorry, this is an evil and deranged mindset. Furthermore, it's ignorant to think you're exempt from a lawsuit if someone dies. Every day, families of the dead file wrongful death lawsuits against the person who killed their family member.

    Reporting a “no-shoot” DGU —

    Even if the bad guy takes off, immediately report any incident where you brandished a firearm to the police.

    Get to a safe location if you must, but contact the police immediately. If you're en route to a safer place, call the police while you move. Tell them you don't feel safe and want to meet an officer to report what just happened.

    If possible, ask witnesses to tell police what they saw and get their contact information. If you're able to, grab license plate info to provide to the police if they want to follow up.

    The police may write a crime report or just take an incident report to document the facts. Either way, you have told the police your side of the story.

    In Closing —

    I know that statistically, the vast majority of everyday carriers and those who read this post won't ever have to draw a firearm in self-defense; praise God for that. And an even smaller percentage will have to press a trigger in self-defense.

    I don't carry a firearm because of the odds I'll have to use it. I carry a handgun because I am directed to protect my family and the most vulnerable among us. I value human life, so I believe that having the ability and means to intervene but instead sitting back to allow a depraved person to execute defenseless children is cowardly.

    Why do you carry a firearm? Leave a comment.

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    Thursday, February 17, 2022

    Healthy for Life with Exercise

     

    • Author Adrianus Joele
    If people would realize how many health benefits exercise can offer, there would be no hesitation in getting started with some form of exercise.

    Especially older folks are harder to get motivated, because they think the exercise will cause an injury. At the contrary, exercise will keep there overall fitness level and muscle strength in optimal form. It's a matter of choosing the right form of exercise.

    Swimming, walking and gardening are very suitable for older people. Swimming has the advantage that their body weight will be partly supported by the water, which makes it possible to exercise without risking any bodily harm.

    Walking is the best exercise you can have, because it's natural. Good long brisk walks give a lot of benefits- the whole body begins to respond. You breath properly, your circulation and heart benefits, and it's good for the mind and positive thinking.

    It's only in recent years that fitness gurus have recognized the supremacy of brisk walking. In contrary to jogging, brisk walking provides a lot of benefits without any problems. Walking is almost as important as the right food. You need to eat properly and exercise properly, the two together gives you the best results. The internal organs of the body need tone and for this most of them depend almost entirely on physical activity.

    Exercise produces big results whether we’re 40, 60 or 80. According to the Human Physiology Laboratory at Tufts University Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, we respond well to exercise at any age. Muscles grow, bones strengthen, and metabolism increases. Our body fat decreases while blood sugar and balance improve. I proved this to myself when I taught strength training at a retirement residence. With modest effort, exercisers in their 80s grew stronger and more vital. We were all delighted. Reduced muscle strength is associated with age-related disability. The most common cause of muscle weakness is inactivity. After three months of high-intensity muscle training, healthy men over 60 experienced gains similar to those reported for younger men training with similar intensity and duration. People who were stronger remained more independent and less burdened by advancing years. Any type of exercise helps, but combining aerobics, strength, and flexibility works best. For most people, aerobic exercise is an easy place to begin.

    As we breathe deeply, the diafragm – which separates the chest from the abdomen – rises and falls repeatedly, massaging all the internal organs, particularly the stomach, small intestine, bowel, lungs and liver. The stretching and relaxing of the intestines is vital in preventing that widespread form of 'self poisoning' : constipation. Exercise does keep you regular!

    In the mid-eighties, a vital clue to the right exercise for lifelong health was uncovered by brilliant research in biochemistry. Biochemists established that all cell replication in the immune system and therefore all immune strength is dependent on availability of the amino acid glutamine. Your immune system uses a ton of it. But immune cells cannot make glutamine. Only muscle cells can do the job. So your muscles have to supply large amounts of glutamine to your immune system every day in order to maintain it. That's it! The mitochondria of muscle are the furnaces in which most of your body fat and sugar are burned for fuel. Muscle is what stresses your skeleton to maintain your bones. We also know that muscle is the vital link which also maintain your immunity and hence your resistance to all diseases. Muscle is the health engine. Which so much overwhelming evidence that muscular exercise is essential to health, what are we doing about it? A big fat zero.

    Muscle is the health engine. It's a proven fact that the right exercise not only maintains your heart, your lungs, your muscles, your bones, a healthy level of body fat and even your intestinal function, but also some more subtle functions, like insulin and your body's dealing with sugar. It has been known for more than fifty years that lack of exercise leads to glucose intolerance.

    However, not long ago research has shown that getting of the couch and start moving, not only maintain insulin function to deal with the sugar, but it also can reverse decades of damage. Insulin dependent diabetics, for example, using the right exercise program, can increase insulin efficiency so much that some patients, who have used insulin daily for years, no longer need it. In healthy people, the right exercise completely protects glucose tolerance against the degenerative changes in insulin metabolism that lead to adult-onset diabetes. Healthy old men who maintain a lifelong exercise program, have the same healthy insulin efficiency as young men. A high sugar diet, which progressively destroys insulin metabolism, makes it virtually mandatory to exercise if you want to avoid glucose intolerance as you grow older.

    Most physicians believe that hardening of the arteries, a degenerative process, is inevitable. Dr. Lakatta at the National Institute on Aging Research Center in Baltimore, is showing in ongoing experiments, that regular exercise maintains arterial elasticity and even reverses arterial hardening that has already occurred. I could fill many pages citing numerous bodily functions which are maintained by regular exercise. But I will keep it short.

    Research recently undertaken has revealed the major way in which exercise protect you against all diseases. It started with the evidence that exercise increases the overall number of white blood cells. Followed by more precise findings that moderate exercise increases bodily production of lymphocytes, interleukin 2, neutrophils and other disease fighting components of the immune system. There is no doubt that the right exercise strengthens your immunity. And it also strengthens your resistance to all forms of damage, decay, bacteria, viruses, toxins and even radiation. Closing with the wise words of Louis Pasteur, the father of modern medicine: "Host resistance is the key."

    Here is the link for an exercise program that teach you aerobics, weight lifting, flexibility and nutrition for athletes: www.exerciseprogram.net

    Adrian Joele became interested in nutrition and weight management while he was an associate with a nutritional supplement company. Since 2008 he wrote several articles about nutrition and weight loss and achieved expert status with Ezine Articles.com. He has been involved in nutrition and weight management for more than 12 years and he likes to share his knowledge with anyone who could benefit from it.

    Get his free report on nutrition and tips for healthy living, by visiting: http://www.nutrobalance2.net

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    Tuesday, February 15, 2022

    The Truth Will Stand When the World is on Fire

     

    • Author Tony Grayson
    Summary

    A version of this statement is often passed down within families. It comes from a variety of sources. One is Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice": "The Truth will Out." In Ephesians 5:9 of The Bible, a modern translation fits the statement: "The light within you produces what is good, right, and true." Essentially, it is the little voice in our heart that tells us right from wrong.

    The world is on fire when enough people do not listen to that little voice. Yet, time after time, even when the world is on fire, enough people have listened, combined, and acted for the collective good. Another quote: "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an un-pitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle." Give Edmund Burke, an Irish political philosopher, credit for saying something that we all know to be true. ( Continued below.....)

    Tyrants Getting The Smackdown! The Rock Almighty Shaker of Heaven and Earth

    (...Continued.....)Tests of our Character

    It tends to happen in small groups. Someone does something out of line. What do the others in the small group do? Usually, they tolerate the act. Then, the antagonist believes that his/her activity has borne fruit. It happens again. Most likely, the group will take note, but will not get involved. A psychologist among them would have an opportunity to conduct a case study on what has become a group dynamic. For everyone else in the group, this could be the opening volley of misery. This is the tyrant in the office, the bully on the school ground,the rule breaker and mischief-maker. What happens if someone in the office realizes, after repeated disruptions, that he/she must stand up to the tyrant? What indeed? If one good person takes a stand, the rest of the group still must do something. Usually, they do nothing. "Let Human Resources handle it." "Discipline is the teacher's job." These moments are a test of character for everyone in the small group. If someone stands up for right, and stands alone, the stronger personality will win. Quite often, the stronger personality belongs to the tyrant. An emboldened tyrant will dominate, much as a sheep-herding dog dominates sheep that outnumber the dog, perhaps 200:1.

    Citizens

    People predominately live their lives as members of a human society. In some parts of the world, those societies are still called tribes. In industrialized countries, citizens often form around villages, towns, cities. Folks identify themselves to be part of a district, a state, a region and a country. Besides geography, people form around their familial ties, their religion, their sport team, their school, their earned educational designation (society of engineers, local labor union). In all of these examples of shared human bonds, the rule of law is necessary. Someone must lead. He/'she is expected to promote the welfare of the society through governance. Tests of our character are found here too. The same people who will not listen to their inner voice, will not stand up for righteousness, will not support the one who does, also will not likely contribute to the society. They will not lead or volunteer to support. They will not vote and will not communicate with the one who was elected. When trouble comes,they expect the police to handle it. When their child acts out in public, they will not correct the child. Their country might have been born from sacrifice. Others, before them, may have given their lives to guarantee the freedoms that all of the citizens enjoy. Yet, in time of need, during crisis, and even during the safe times when voting in the best leader is so important, so many will shirk their obligation to their ancestors and to the society's needs today. They will not listen to their inner voice. "Let someone else vote." "Someone should say something to that lady who lets her dog C*** on their lawn." "I don't have time to answer that senator who asked me how he is doing in Congress." "Those poor starving people in the earthquake zone;someone should organize food for them." "What is the world coming to? Those people have just taken another country. Don't they realize that their leader is a tyrant? I hope we stay out of it."

    The Truth

    The rule of law only works when society enforces the rule. Many will argue that there is too much corruption and crime in the world, too many different points of view to gain consensus on what is right, vast distances in geography, and greater personal risks today make it harder to take a principled stand. Yet,no argument has the strength to withstand public scrutiny or self-examination. When we do not take a stand, we stand for nothing. Edmund Burke is not remembered for being correct about the stands that he took. He is admired for standing up. Any of us who have done that in our lives, look back on the moment without the stinging rebuke of regret. The ones who stand alone against the tyrant and bully stand tall, even if they lose. It is the ones who will not stand with him/her, those who let themselves fail the test of character, who cast their eyes down to their shoes in the presence of the one who was sacrificed. But, take heart. Some of the most admired, good people of societies were slackers for much of their early lives. One day,they looked up and stood up for right. That became their habit. The truth will stand when the world is on fire. Truth is revealed by people who will not tolerate a wrong. When they stand, they are the rock. Those who stand with them build a stone wall about that rock. Never are there too many of them to extinguish a moral fire. There can be too few. Stand up!

    Tony is a writer, an author of several published novels, and an independent publisher. He wrote and published "A Voice from New Mill Creek: The Methodists," "Goodnight Paige," "How Tony Wrote and Published Two Novels," and "The Star of India." https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lF6k3S84 and http://youtu.be/ICK8qpv0a30 .

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    Monday, February 14, 2022

    Odd Baseball Rules You May Not Be Aware Of

     

    • Author Robert Hinchliffe
    Baseball is one of America’s favorite pastimes. Although football and basketball are worthy rivals, baseball’s timeless uniforms, chants, and stadium food continue to stand the test of time and join fans together. However, even with the baseball cults found across the country, there are still some unknown facts about the sport. Continue reading to discover a few of the odd baseball rules you may not be aware of.

    Umpires Cannot Acknowledge Players or Fans

    Although fans may yell all they want at these individuals, umpires cannot respond to any of the disagreement or agreement with their calls unless speaking with a coach. Some may find this to be lonely since the umpire stands right next to the players and fans but cannot acknowledge them. However, this career obviously has its rewards and is a perfect fit for the right individuals, or else they would not have pursued it.

    Catchers’ Interference

    If you’ve ever played as a catcher on a baseball team, then you can relate to the intimidating feeling of having a baseball soaring 80 miles per hour or higher straight towards your face. Although you have lots of protective gear, it does not take the adrenaline away. But the ball is not the only thing catchers have to worry about. One rule that fans may not be aware of is that if a batter hits the catcher, it is deemed the catcher’s fault for interfering with the bat. As odd as it may seem, this rule has been followed religiously in the sport of baseball for several years.

    Dirty Baseballs Get Replaced Mid-Game

    Have you ever attended a game and wondered why players are so quick to throw a baseball up to their fans? Don’t they need that ball for the game, and aren’t they wasting a perfectly good ball? However, this may have little to do with baseball players wanting to please their adoring fans and more to do with an odd rule. What fans may not realize is that baseballs need to be replaced if they get dirty. As one can imagine, it is very easy for a baseball to grow dirty in a sport that is played on grass and dirt. Therefore, most professional baseball games go through a large number of baseballs, counting it no cost to toss one into the stands.

    Although some of these rules may seem odd, they are an essential backbone in keeping the game running smoothly. Without these rules, the sport wouldn’t be what it is today, and as OCD as some of the rules may seem, they play an essential role in the overall order of baseball.

    Robert Hinchliffe is a finance executive and business expert located in Tampa, Florida. Robert has a solid track record of success in the fields of financial management and mergers and acquisitions. Robert has been Vice President of Mergers & Acquisitions at Second Catalyst since 2014. Robert stands out from his competition in the way that he seeks, assesses, and negotiates investment possibilities to assure the company's continued growth. To learn more about Robert Hinchliffe, please visit his website.

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    COMMUNICATING WITH GOD

     

    COMMUNICATING WITH GOD

    by Creflo Dollar |




    One guarantee we have in life is that it will never be completely trouble-free. Dealing with its challenges would quickly become overwhelming if we didn’t have the ability to communicate with others and ask for assistance. When difficult situations present themselves and we have no clue how to handle them, we can either devise our own strategy and rely on our own perceived cleverness, or acknowledge that we need divine help. When we’re in trouble, prayer is the only real solution.


    Prayer is direct communication with God; however, praying is something many people haven’t learned how to do properly. As children, we were taught to say our prayers at bedtime, but it usually involved memorizing words and repeating them back on cue. Religion teaches us to pray only at certain times and only about certain topics; by contrast, God wants us to talk with Him constantly, share what’s in our hearts and on our minds, and keep those lines of communication open. His will for us is to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

    Some people feel like they have to fit their prayers into a pre-specified formula before they’re accepted. Others want to put on a show with their loud, public prayers. God wants to free us from all those expectations, which are simply religious trappings.

    And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him (Matthew 6:5-8).

    Whether we’re struggling or everything is fine, what’s important to God is our attitude while we’re praying. Thinking about everything He’s done for us, including sending His Son to give us authority over trouble and to empower us to live victorious lives, leads us into gratitude and thankfulness. He wants us to come to Him with our needs while at the same time thanking Him for having already made provisions to meet those needs before we even knew we would have them. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:4, 6, NKJV).

    God loves us and wants to hear from us anytime, anyplace, anywhere. Whenever something is troubling us, He wants us to come straight to Him. There are no forbidden topics, and nothing is off-limits. Even when things are going great in our lives, God still loves to hear from us.

    If we’ve accepted Jesus, then we’re God’s children and He’s our heavenly Father. The bottom line is that God wants to grant us what we request, in the same way an earthly father wants to give his children what they ask for. When we trust Him enough to believe His Word, He’ll honor our prayers. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you (John 15:7, NIV). This is a solemn promise from God.