Prayer, the Great Mystery
Prayer is one of those things that will forever remain a mystery to us. We read theology books and listen to speakers on the subject, but no-one can fully explain what prayer is, how it works, and why some prayers are answered while others seem to remain unfulfilled. All we really need to know is that prayer is our way of communicating with God; that we can do it anytime, in any circumstance of life. Furthermore, the Bible assures us that God hears all of our prayers and is available 24/7, 365 days a year, no down time, and prayer comes with a guaranteed instant high speed connection!
One of the things I am often asked as a minister is how to pray. For a lot of people simply knowing how to pray is mystery enough. Do we close our eyes? Do we fold our hands together? Do we pray out loud or do we pray silently? And of course, what do we pray for? So many questions and the answers will vary considerably depending on who you ask.
For me personally, prayer is simply talking to God. A pastor once told me that there is no great secret surrounding prayer. He said that if we want to talk to someone we simply open our mouths and speak, and the same is true of our communication with God. Ever since, I have just talked to God wherever and whenever.
It took me some time developing an ongoing prayer life, but it has been worth it. In my own walk I have seen so many wonderful and amazing things happen as a direct result of prayer including, among other things, physical and spiritual healings, restored marriages and relationships, and many a financial problem resolved.
Those who desire to have a deeper relationship with God must ask themselves some tough questions with regards to their prayer lives such as, can we ever truly say we have a relationship with God if we rarely, or never, take the time to be with Him, to talk to Him? Contextually speaking, would our marriages or family relationships last if we never spoke to them or took the time to be with them?
Another thought I want to pose is that of listening. A vital part of communication and developing strong relationships is in the listening process. With that in mind, how can we ever hope to hear from God if we are constantly talking to him and never listening long enough to hear from Him?
Another hindrance to prayer lies in the belief that God isn’t really interested in our petty problems or worries, but nothing could be further from the truth. God is interested in everything about us, from the largest detail to the minutest. And He desires nothing more than to have a lasting, ongoing relationship with us.
If you desire to have a relationship with God, then why not begin by speaking to Him? We sometimes make things so complicated, but all God is waiting for is for you to simply open your mouth and talk to Him.
Christian St John M.Div, BChM, ACS
November, 2008
Picture by Ryan Forkel
Article originally published in The Abbotsford Times
