Prayer

"Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. my voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up." Psalm 5:1-3

What is prayer? Do we close our eyes and make a wish... 
as if God were a genie in a bottle or Santa Claus... 
as if waiting for Him to grant our three wishes and to be at our beck and call? 
I don’t think so.     

Webster’s Dictionary:
Pray: entreat, implore, often used as a function word in introducing a question, request, or plea.
Prayer: an address (as a petition) to God or a god in word or thought.

The Holman Bible Dictionary:
Prayer - Dialogue between GOD and people

I love to talk with my husband and children.  I communicate with them to exchange information. I learn how their day was. I get their opinions, and find out their plans for the future. When we share, it also makes me feel closer to them--I better understand their needs and wants. But, most importantly, it lets me become part of their lives. There is an intimacy that comes from sharing our day with each other.

God knows all things. You may wonder why we have to tell Him anything. He is ‘God’ right?  Yes, but intimacy with Him comes through sharing--being thankful for His presence--letting Him know our fears and our need to be comforted. Jesus loves us and wants to be part of our lives.

Prayer is intimate, personal and needed. Like any good parent longing to know their children better, Abba Father longs for conversations with us.

God wants to talk to us, as well. It’s not a one way conversation. God talks to us through His word (the Bible), advice from a trusted friend or a Pastor. He will and does communicate with us one on one--if we listen--in the quietness of our hearts. I will never forget the first time I heard Him call me ‘daughter’. 

We share with our friends, husbands, children, parents, etc...  Why not share with the One who made us?  

Jesus said this about prayer: 

"When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again. Don't be like them, because your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!
Matthew 6:7-8

by Eve Montano