What is prayer
to me?
Prayer is communication. It is relationship.
It is a sincere stream of genuine thought flowing from the deepest parts of me.
It is pure.
It is raw.
It is real.
Prayer, for me, usually begins as something deliberate…I
go into it thinking I know how I feel and what I want to say…but often times it
ends up turning into candid words about subconscious concerns that have been
hidden so deep that I didn’t even know they were there…until they are involuntarily
unlocked by my rambling lips.
“Search
me oh God…know my heart…”
He knows and understands things about me that
I could never even conspire.
There is no
point in trying to hide things from Him.
It is foolish to try to mask how I really
feel…or to try to “beat around the bush” with Him.
Trying to manipulate Him into thinking that I
am something that I am not is idiotic.
And thinking I can get away with half prayers
is senseless.
“Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord,
know it completely…”
Prayer, to me, is endless.
It is an ongoing conversation with my Father…
The word “Amen” is uncommon to me…because
when am I really ever done speaking with Him?
It’s like saying “goodbye” to someone who
never leaves…
Not saying that I am “so great” that I am
just always in prayer because I am such a devout Christian…but because I am the
complete opposite.
I know that it would be foolish of me to
think that I could go even a moment without Christ’s guidance.
And yet, there are plenty of times when I
still doubt.
“How
long do I have to wait on You until you deliver?”
I am ashamed to say that this is a prayer
that came from my mouth just a few nights ago…
Those times where you know that God is always faithful…but still feel like you
need to question Him…
Who am I to understand Him?
I am like a sheep…blindly following my
Shepard…and yet – there are still those moments where He allows me to see a
glimpse into His plan…and those moments are incredible.
I KNOW that God IS FAITHFUL.
I KNOW that He keeps His promises.
And if there is a desire that He has placed
in my heart – then He WILL provide.
And even though it is often times difficult…I
could not be more thankful that He provides ALL things in HIS timing!
DON’T give up. Don’t lose sight.
Keep your feet grounded in HIS path and He
will take you where you need to go and provide everything you need.
When His promises seem distant
And when everyone around you is calling you a
fool
Don’t let go.
The process is all a part of His plan.
Tell Him you’re lost.
Tell Him you’re confused.
Tell Him you don’t understand.
But don’t.
let. go.
Because He hasn’t forgotten about you. And
He’ll never let you go.
Pray without
ceasing.
Pick up your cross.
Daily.
And pray
without ceasing.
Be in constant
communion with Him.
And be genuine.
And raw.
And real.
Scream. Cry. Pitch a fit!
Or allow the hurt to become so vivid that no
words can even be uttered from your lips and no movement can be achieved.
But be real.
Whatever you do – be real.
Allow God to HEAR your heart from your own words.
He already discerns every part of it – but
love Him enough to allow Him to HEAR
it from YOU.
Make the conscious decision to SPEAK to Him – to deliberately tell Him
about your concerns…
Those times where you get the thought in your
mind to turn off your tv or put down your phone and just talk to Him…that is
HIM CALLING YOU.
Those times you are driving in your car and a
thought of prayer comes into your mind…that is HIM placing it there.
And those times when you are laying in bed at
night, too tired to move but too restless to fall asleep…that is Him creating
an opportunity for you to go to Him.
He is pursuing
you.
Always.
So go
to Him!
Pray to Him.
And do it without ceasing.
Don’t ever stop.
