'[Prayer] is an earnest and familiar talking with God.' — John Knox
Something about prayer always seems mysterious - even to the most deeply discipled among us. The disciples of Jesus felt this was an area that they too needed His coaching (Luke 11:1-13).
Most people probably assume that prayer is mainly intercessory prayer. Praying to God, that He would move on behalf of myself or another. Lord, please give me what I want kind of requests. Although this is certainly one form of prayer, if we are to pray without ceasing as the Scriptures instruct (1 Thess 5:17), then our prayers must be more than wishlists.
The Psalms are the prayer book for God’s people. We see intercession and petition in the Psalms of course, but we also see that prayer is a posture of heart, a rhythm of life, and shaped around the contours of every day.
‘…pour out your heart before Him…’ (Ps 62:8)
‘O Lord, all my longing is before You…’ (Ps 38:9)
‘For God alone, my soul waits in silence…’ (Ps 62:1)
‘I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways.’ (Ps 119:15)
‘With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come; I will remind them of Your righteousness, Yours alone.’ (Ps 71:16)
For prayer to be an earnest and familiar talking with God, we must continue to posture our hearts toward communion, union, and relationship with God.
Open hands,
open hearts,
open ears.
Speak Lord, your servant is listening… All the amens.
Amen,
AB