I've started to realize over the years that prayer isn't just requesting something. I've always remembered what i learned a few years ago about prayer
Praise
Repent
A
Y
Ok, maybe I didn't keep it in mind because I can't remember what the A and Y mean. Atone? Yearn? Basically, when I pray I come to God first as open as I can possibly be. I thank Him for life, my relationship with Him and others and a lot of random things. Then I ask Him to forgive me for...being me (human) and even for things I don't know I've done. Then, I usually get into the request.
BUT, that is my scheduled prayer. I "pray" to God hourly and sometimes minute to minute. I think that is what He wants more than me only praying when I need something. I have this continued conversation going on with God throughout the day and I can be funny or sarcastic or mad or crazy happy. I know that He gets it.
"There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God." -Brother Lawrence
SO. Why pray? I think it's mutual gratification. He gets to keep up conversation with his created child (and why else would He have created?) and His child gets to feel connected with their creator. He's not too big and far away to chat. He literally is with me 24/7 and always yearning for our conversation. I am wanted and that will never change. I don't have to worry about if he's in the mood to talk to me. He is.
I should probably stop and say here that prayer works. It works in extreme times of duress and pain and healing, but that's not really what I'm talking about here. I'm talking about why we should pray daily and keep up this relationship.
"Like all good things, prayer requires some discipline. Yet I believe that life with God should seem more like a friendship than duty. Prayer includes moments of ecstasy and also dullness, mindless distraction and acute concentration, flashes of joy and bouts of irritation. In other words, prayer has features in common with all relationships that matter." Philip Yancey
On Wednesday at Bible study, Pastor Steve spoke about when people ask about hearing the voice of God. Why is it so hard and what does it sound like and where does it come from? The questions are endless. There aren't any answers, by the way. It's all personal and only you can answer it, but there are ways to "better your chances of knowing" haha
1. READ THE WORD OF GOD AND GET TO KNOW WHAT HE SOUNDS LIKE.
2. SHUT UP LONG ENOUGH TO HEAR HIM
3. MAKE ONE OF YOUR PRAYERS TO HEAR HIM
Ok, this has kind of been all over the place and I'm struggling with blogging. I want it to not be like I'm writing a paper in college, but I don't know how to find my voice. Jennifer Wayne said "maybe you should pray about it" haha Ok Jenn, I will.
"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." John 15:7
To "abide" means to remain; continue; to stay. So, if you remain in Him and His words stay with you, you can ask for whatever you wish and it will be done.
Talk to Him today and see what happens...
