“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” I think and wonder how prayer is such a marvelous and gracious gift from God. It is truly a blessing to be in God’s most holy presence and share our hearts, our joys, frustrations, and concerns with Him. How could one ever truly live or function without the great gift of prayer? How could one exist or breathe a sigh of relief without the gift or great experience of praying intimately with the Lord? How could one not ever really appreciate how amazing prayer can truly be? In my early days, prayer was not automatic for me. It seemed to be a last-minute resort or the thing to do when everything else failed or that thing I had to do when nothing else seem to work. It was only in those desperate moments and urgent times that I found myself in a church, on my knees begging, negotiating, pleading, and promising better ways and better behavior if only I could obtain the answer to my prayer. Sad to note, that is what we usually call or consider prayer. The prayer that only seems to work when we seem to get our way. Now, praise God, I confess that prayer is oxygen to me. It is better than food and sweeter than honey or any nectar or passion fruit. Prayer is the immediacy of God. His closeness, His intimacy, His profoundly real presence, the source, and summit of all we really need, long for, or desire. Prayer is consoling, revealing, healing, and up-lifting. Prayer is a person, an ear, a heart, a shoulder to cry on and a dependable person that we can always faithfully depend on to give us the best counsel, helpful guidance and the right and only answer we need to know. Prayer is life-giving, lifesaving, life-changing only if we pray with openness of heart, a generous spirit, purity of intent, and with unwavering faith, confidence, and trust in God. Prayer requires patient silent attention, a listening spirit, and a receptive disposition. You cannot pray or say you pray if you are not truly discerning God’s call or plan for your life. You cannot discern God’s will knowing you already made up your mind and already made the decision. That appears to be closed-minded, negotiating God’s will, or simply being manipulative. Prayer assumes the only true reason we pray is to be closer to God, to listen to His voice, to hear what He has to say, and enjoy His friendship forever.
