I pray this day finds you thinking about the one and only true God who hears and answers prayers. I can’t imagine not having God to turn to in times of difficulty. I can’t imagine feeling that I was alone with all the confusion, evil and darkness (and that is just within my own heart). I can’t imagine not having One to worship with all my heart, soul and strength. Prayer can be all of that and so much more.
Some thoughts on prayer:
- God already knows my every need, my every thought, my every concern, so prayer to God is not about information transfer from me to God. In going to God in prayer, I recognize who He is. I recognize that He is all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, and He desires to help me. In prayer, I learn about God.
- In my life, when I ask for help, sometimes I get it, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes when I need help, I can’t ask for it because of weakness or fear. With God, when I need help, He always comes through, and even when I can’t find the words to ask, God helps me anyway. He is closer than a brother.
- I see the needs of others, but I don’t have the resources to help them, and I don’t really know anyone to ask who does have the resources and would be willing to help. That is what is so great about God. He has the cattle on a thousand hills. He is the source of all things. Through prayer, I have access to God’s limitless resources not only for myself, but also for those I see in need. My Heavenly Father hears me.
- Prayer is about relationship. I cannot comprehend the width, length, depth and height of the love of God, a love which passes knowledge, without being in moment-by-moment contact with God through prayer, the idea of praying without ceasing.
- Prayer is an ongoing and continuing dialog with God. I share my needs, and I learn of His endless resources. I share my fear, and I learn of His close presence, the strength and protection of His everlasting arms, and the safety of abiding in the shadow of the almighty. I share my victories, and I learn of His provision and how to say “thanks.” I find myself powerless and lost, and I learn of His character, His awesome power, mercy and grace.
It is my God, and my God alone who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I ask or think. I only learn that when I am in prayer and relationship with God.
Great thoughts, Mary. I also especially like the assurance that I don’t have to know how to ask or what to ask for because the Holy Spirit, who is SOOOOOO much wiser than I am, is asking on my behalf (Romans 8:26-27). That knowlege helps me concentrate on just relating to God without having to worry whether I am doing it right or not.
Amen. It is just one more example of God knowing our weaknesses and frailties and anticipating our needs.