Prayer

How do we improve our conscious contact with God?  How do we, as the Bible encourage us, pray without ceasing?  What is prayer?

Simply put, prayer is talking with God. 

By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life. 

Psalm 42:6

God created us for relationship with Him. Friends are people who like each other and enjoy sharing activities and spending time together.  They share their thoughts and feelings with each other during good times and in times of struggle.   Social media posts or text or e-mails often complement the sharing. In other words, friends get to know one another and become familiar with each other’s lives.  They trust one another with their life experiences.  

Through God’s infinite knowledge He knows all about us and has asked us to open the door of our hearts and allow Him to come in, so we can talk and share with one another as friends.  That’s prayer. 

Jesus says: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”

Revelation 3:20

Prayer includes listening to God as we read the Bible.  We pray when we ask for understanding of what we are reading and observing in His word. 

Thankfully we can also talk to God about happenings in our day, tell God about our needs, thank God for life's simple pleasures and even seek His guidance when we bring our frustrations and complaints before Him.  When we fail, we can bring our guilt and shame to God and ask for, and receive, His forgiveness and healing. 

All of this is done through prayer.  This interaction with God helps our friendship with God deepen and grow 

Thank You God for Your promise that:

Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear.

Isaiah 65:24

What a reason to take a few moments and have a conversation with You in prayer.

Thank you that we are precious to You and the smallest details of our day are important to you.  You are a good Father and we want to improve my conscious contact with You to.   Help me to open our hearts and offer all we are experiencing to You.  At the same time, we seek Your counsel in every detail of my life. Thank you for the gift of prayer. Amen

It is wonderful, isn’t it, that God invites us today to pray and promises to respond. Let’s not just know that’s a fact but actually take action to allow His goodness to transform our lives by spending time in prayer.