Have A Little Talk with Jesus
I found an old book in my father’s library called "All Things Are Possible Through Prayer" by Charles L. Allen. The pages were discolored from age and there were no fancy pictures or fonts but the content within the first few pages of the book was like a treasure chest. There was a sentence at the very beginning of the book that stuck out to me stating, "when it comes to prayer, we all stand on equal ground. Each has the right of access to the Father." As God’s children, we ALL have the freedom and ability to talk to our Father. The quote made me think about how we have unlimited access to a connection and relationship with God and through that relationship, we can have forgiveness, peace, joy, comfort, guidance, understanding and the list goes on.
Prayer is a privilege. I know that sounds like such a cliche and I’ve heard it so many times that I don’t realize the magnitude of that statement. If you take a moment just to think about it you and I both have 24/7 access to God for whatever we need. Prayer is so foundational and an essential must in the life of a Christian. Although I am aware of this truth, the reality is I don’t always value prayer as much as I should.
I stopped to think about it, like why if I know the power of prayer and the unlimited access I have to God, why would I neglect prayer and I thought of 3 reasons and solutions to a more committed and consistent habit of prayer.
1. Uncertainty of how to pray and what to say.
Have you ever been there? You finally have a chance to spend a moment in prayer and all of a sudden the silence seems deafening and maybe it even feels a little awkward. If I had to define prayer in my own words it’s a sincere and honest conversation with God. We have the opportunity to talk with God in the same way we’d talk with a friend. We don’t have to get hung up on having the right words to say because God already knows what you need (Matthew 6:7-8). Your sentences and grammar don’t have to be perfect and you can be free to say what’s on your heart and mind. Just speak to God from your heart, He is there and is listening to you.
2. Not having enough time.
Wake up, get ready for work, commute or jump on zoom for work, lunch break, downtime for a mental break, prepare dinner, get ready for bed, and repeat. If I’m honest, prayer sometimes feels like a luxurious option more than a necessary must. It just seems that with so many things going on in life and all of the obligations that we have whether to our family, careers, or other commitments, prayer can slide down further and further on our list of priorities until it’s no longer present. Prioritize prayer, pray in your coming and going (1 Thessalonians 5:17) since it's a convo you can pray on the go just make sure to prioritize and practice stopping intentionally to have undistracted prayer.
3. Being distracted by my problems.
Flustered, overwhelmed, frantic, and anxious. These are all emotions and feelings that I can relate to and understand. If I’m honest when I’ve faced situations that had me feeling all or some of these emotions, I was so consumed by my emotions that prayer was not on my radar. Maybe you’ve been there, exhausting all of your efforts to no avail or feeling anxious and nervous from your circumstances. These places are the best place to be in for prayer. God’s grace is always present but we can know that when we pray to Him and ask for His help, He is with us and strengthening us in our weak moments. (2 Corinthians 12:9) Don’t let your emotions paralyze you from prayer but push through.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6
There is much to gain from a consistent prayer life. In prayer, you can receive forgiveness for your mess-ups, peace in your troubles, comfort in low moments, and joy overflowing. Take time for prayer and make it a part of your daily routine, you won’t regret it.