YES – PRAYER IS A CHAT WITH GOD

Yes – Prayer is a Chat with God

by Jan Cox

Prayer can be such a private thing. I guess on this blog we are more open about it. However as we open ourselves to the struggle – and it is indeed a struggle – hopefully with Christ’s help we can get better and therefore closer to God.

God is looking for honesty. There are still hidden misconceptions that God wants fancy language, flowing words, and a fine sounding voice. Wrong – just not true. Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at our hearts. [1 Samuel 16:7]

There is a battle of our wills that takes place in order to pray. We use excuses why we don’t pray:

  • I don’t feel like it.
  • I don’t have enough time.
  • I don’t know what to say.
  • I don’t need to bother God – I can figure it out myself.
  • My thoughts get in the way.

But God wants this relationship with us. In order to win this spiritual battle we must push past excuses and use our wills to take the time to talk to God.

And God does yearn jealously after us.

Can you see the battle – our independence and our self versus obedience to God?

A wonderful old hymn, called Take Time to be Holy by William D. Longstaff (1882), can help us see that we need to push through – to pray in private – to go away to a spot and really have a chat with God. Here are some of the words of this lovely old hymn:

Take time to be holy,
speak oft with thy Lord;
abide in him always,
and feed on his word.

Take time to be holy,
the world rushes on;
spend much time in secret
with Jesus alone.

I encourage you this week to make time with God – have a chat – be yourself. Ask Him to help you make prayer a habit.

Prayer:

Help us Lord Jesus, to become wonderful pray-ers. Help us to battle the Evil one who doesn’t want us to have this fabulous connection with God. Show us and guide us to connect with Him. We pray in your precious name, Jesus. AMEN.

My Gratitude List for this week. I’m up to 292.

  • Babysitting with my husband our 2 youngest grandchildren
  • Walks by the beach, to the park and to the canal
  • Explaining the lock system to a 4-year old
  • Watching a boat descend in the lock
  • A visit to the Peterborough Zoo
  • Camels, monkeys and llamas
  • A train rider through a tunnel with screaming kids

Jan Cox

Jan, a former school teacher and small business owner, found a new passion in writing in her retirement. She has published two devotionals and a number of articles for magazines and a Bible study. She is owner of Under the Cover of Prayer and moderates the site. She also writes at A Better Way. Jan has written a children’s book in which she is also the watercolour illustrator. She hopes to publish it this year.


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