What do you do when you want to get to know someone? Do you take them out for lunch? Maybe share a cup of coffee? Most likely, you ask them some questions, and then what?
You listen.
So now, let’s shift that focus—rather than talking about a friend. Let’s talk about the Friend and how we communicate with Him.
Prayer is a powerful word with many different meanings depending on who you ask. But what is prayer? And how would you define it?
Paul Miller, in his book, A Praying Life, defines prayer as being all about relationship. Simply put, it is the medium through which we experience and connect with God. Going even further, Miller says that we begin to struggle with prayer when we begin to focus on praying and not God.
At the very core of prayer is God.
How often do we say, “I guess all I can do is pray?” Have you ever said that before? I am certainly guilty of having said those words. But I have it backwards. Prayer is not what I should be doing as a last resort as though it is hopeless; prayer is what I should be doing from the beginning! It is mighty, it is powerful! It is communicating with God on high and aligning my thoughts to His.
Priscilla Shirer said it best when she wrote in her book, Fervent, “Prayer is all about dependency. If I’m on my knees, I’m showing God that I don’t have a Plan B. He is my plan.”
Oh, how I wish I could grasp the reality of prayer. I wish we would come to the understanding that prayer isn’t something we “have” to do out of dread or fear. It also is not something we “should” do as if it is some demand or duty. And more than anything, it is not a “last resort.” Rather prayer is our lifeline!
It is the place where we fight our battles. It is the way we communicate with a holy and righteous God. Prayer is the place where we can experience God’s presence, power and purpose.
Prayer should be our greatest reality in life because as prayer becomes a “way of life” for us, God’s presence becomes our reality. It becomes one of the keyways we build our relationship with Him while unlocking the powerful forces that push back against the realm of spiritual darkness.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. –Romans 8:26-27 (NIV)
So, as you begin your day, look to the Lord and simply pray. It doesn’t need to be eloquent; it doesn’t need to be perfect, but instead in a place where you can simply seek Him. A place and time to dwell on His goodness and simply be.
This week, my prayer is that you would draw closer to Him like never before. That you would realize prayer transcends that which is around us and lifts us to those things that are eternal.
I don’t know what you’re going through, but what I do know is that when asked, the Lord will step into any situation. So, now…ask Him.
Starting tomorrow, our church family will be participating in 28 Days to Pray throughout the month of February as well as Lifeline which will be in the Loft on Wednesday Nights (beginning at 6:15 PM). I pray you will join me for both of these opportunities to engage in prayer together.
Text PRAYWBC to 84576 to Join in 28 Days to Pray
