What God is Saying

Sing to the LORD; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. — Psalm 96:2-3

Thursday, January 28, 2021

What is Prayer?

  

    We often talk about prayer. We pray before meals and offer to pray for one another. Yet familiarity

with the concept of prayer can blind us to its profound wonder. We can talk to the God of heaven and

He listens! Our quiet thoughts, spoken words, anguished cries and joyful praises enter the throne room

of Almighty God. God is exalted above us in every possible way, yet accessible to us. When we draw

near to Him, He draws near to us (James 4:8). We cannot overestimate the amazing privilege and

responsibility of prayer.

    Prayer is equally simple and complex. Most simply, prayer is talking to God. Believers pray to the

Father (Ephesians 1:17; 3:14), through the Son (John 14:13; 15:16; Romans 1:8; 5:1-2; Colossians 3:17) 

and in the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:18; Jude 1:20). Christ broke the barrier between God and sinful people 

and made access to Holy God available to those who believe in Him. The Holy Spirit prays for us with 

groanings too deep for human words (Romans 8:26). All parts of the Godhead are actively engaged when 

you pray.

    Prayer reflects a relationship with God. Your love for God and desire for Him draws you to prayer.

God speaks in many ways – through His Word, creation, our circumstances, other people, through the

Holy Spirit. In prayer, we speak to Him. Do you want to spend time with God, to listen and to speak to

the One who knows the secrets of your heart? Prayer is more about surrendering to God than 

communicating our agenda. Through prayer, God molds our hearts to His higher and better ways. By 

praying, you acknowledge you need what you do not have in your own strength. When you pray, you look 

beyond yourself to God who knows more and can do more than you could ever imagine (Ephesians 3:20-

21).

    Prayer expresses dependence on God. The depth and regularity of your prayers indicate how

much you depend on God and how much you depend on yourself. When you pray, you acknowledge

God’s attentive, active interest and involvement in your life. You recognize His compassion for your

needs and power to act on your behalf (Hebrews 2:17; 4:15). Your needs are never too insignificant for

God to care about or too big for Him to handle. Even when answers to prayer seem slow in coming, God

is at work. The way you pray indicates what you believe about God. Your faith is not in prayer itself, but

in the God who hears and answers prayer.

    Prayer connects people on earth with God, their Creator. People do not pray because they do not

think rightly about God. Some reject God, and some ignore Him. They do not think God cares, listens to

them or will do anything for them. To fail to pray either ignores the reality that God exists or relegates 

Him as a distant being removed from daily life and real people. People often treat prayer as a last resort 

when all else fails. To fail to pray is to ignore a lifeline from God and to choose to live with only the 

limited resources of this world. What keeps you from praying? What does your prayer life reveal you 

believe about God?

    Prayer can be as natural as breathing for a believer. A child of God needs neither fanfare nor formula

to gain immediate access to the Sovereign of eternity. How do you feel when you receive a telephone

call from someone you love? God loves it when you call out to Him. He wants to spend time with you.

He wants you to tell Him what He already knows. Nothing you pray about ever surprises God or turns

Him away from you. He is not offended when you ask Him honest questions, pour out your heart and

confess your sins. Those who love God deeply speak to Him often. When you believe your prayers reach

and move the heart of God, you know you are never alone, hopeless or powerless. The act of prayer

acknowledges the care and power of God. Answered prayer glorifies God. Will you cry out to God in the

middle of your day or your challenge? Will you express your gratitude to Him with actual words when

you experience joy or pleasure? How does thinking about the privilege of prayer offer fresh wonder and

worship of the God who loves you, hears you and acts on your behalf?

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