A Conversation with God
You know that friend that you haven’t talked to in a while, but you can always jump back in and talk like no time was lost. If I called up my friend, Cindy, we could talk for minutes or hours because we have known each other for many years. The conversation would be easy and flow naturally. Conversation is the way that we communicate, sometimes in a quick text and other times in long chats that wind from topic to topic. Some talks may be serious and deep where hard things are discussed and laid bare. Other times, the conversation may be light, fun, and full of the joy of friendship. Communication through conversation brings forth unity and intimacy.
Over the years, I come to learn of God’s desire to have relationship with his people. From the Garden of Eden to the Tabernacle to the Temple to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, his plan has always been to live in intimacy with us, bringing his glorious presence to our lives. If God loves me this deeply, then conversation through prayer should be part of my relationship with God. Remembering that the Lord calls me his beloved child helps me know that I can come to him quickly and easily just a child would to a loving parent.
My favorite time to pray is early in the morning before my eyes open when my mind is just waking from sleep, and I have not yet been pulled into the business of the day. It is a precious time just leaning into the Spirit and saying, “Good Morning, Jesus”. Just like conversations with good friends, prayer time might be just a moment, or it might be a long deep conversation and everything in between. For me, praying before my eyes even open is the best way to start the day before I get distracted, and the day is off and running.
Routines are not my strength. Maybe it is my ADD brain, but I have trouble with setting routines and patterns to follow each day. Unfortunately, that means that setting up journals and prayer times does not work for me and creates a sense of failure. However, I do try to pray throughout the day as a continuing never-ending conversation always knowing that the one who loves me and knows me the best is always there waiting to hear from me.
Often, when I am wrapped up in my head about concerns in my own life and feeling overly preoccupied about my own issues, this is when the Holy Spirit will prompt me to pray for others. About five years ago, I started texting some friends asking how I can pray for them. The time spent in prayer over the requests from my loved ones has been life giving and has connected us in a deeper way to each other and to Jesus. Early in the morning, I simply ask the Holy Spirit who needs prayer today. Then, as names fill my mind I will text, “How can I pray for you this morning?” Nothing more. When the reply comes, I answer with a simple prayer emoji, as I begin right at that moment to pray for them. I resist the urge to reply back with comments or suggestions, but simply lift them up to the Lord in prayer. Many times, I have heard a friend say that my text came at just a moment when they needed prayer in a desperate way. Also, it never fails that afterwards my soul is more at peace with my own concerns and worries. What an honor and privilege it is to pray!
“The harder Christ’s days the longer His prayer times. The busier He was the greater His insistence on the practice of the presence of the Father. Apparently Jesus Christ knew of no substitute for the daily practice of the shut door, the bent knee, the secret communion.”
from The Praying Christ by James Thompson
