Prayer (part one)

Be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray (1 Peter 4:7).

No relationship can grow or stay healthy without good communication.  This is true of the relationship between husband and wife, parent and child, employer and employee, as well as the bond shared by friends.  It is also true of our relationship with God. 

But communication with God presents a challenge that we don’t have in our other relationships.  The Lord Almighty is holy while we are sinners.  He rules from heaven while we struggle through life here on earth.  Although He is constantly with us, direct contact is only possible through Christ Jesus, the Son of God who became a man to serve as bridge between the righteous heavenly Creator and His sinful, earthly children.  Jesus makes it possible for us to communicate with God, but not in a conventional way. 

We are used to speaking and listening by two-way conversation.  But there are times when the give and take of communication goes slower than we’d like.  We notice lags in getting a response when people are interviewed by satellite from the other side of the world.  A text might go unanswered for a while if the recipient is busy at work.  Exchanging letters can take days or even weeks, depending on the distances involved. 

Our communication with the Savior moves at a measured pace, a bit slower than we’re used to.  Christ speaks to us through the Bible where He shares the contents of His heart.  We can skim through His words looking for the highlights, but communication is better served when we take our time and really think about what He says.  We respond to His message with prayer.  Prayer is our end of the conversation. 

This method of speaking back and forth takes a bit more thought and effort than chatting over a fence.  But the need for listening to and speaking with God is more than worth the effort.  Jesus urges us to pray.  He loves us and wants the closeness that comes through personal conversation.  He knows that we need someone who can be trusted with our most private thoughts, deepest hurts, silliest hopes and dreams.  He wants to be our confidant, and prayer is how that happens.  I know that praying doesn’t provide the immediate satisfaction of a two-way-dialogue over coffee, but Jesus is a better listener—His attention never drifts, He never checks His watch, and He never betrays a confidence.