What is the Intimate Conversation

What is prayer? The response may differ according to the person, their background, culture or race. Oftentimes, prayers have become a laundry list of people to bless; what is needed or what is desired with an abundant amount of time spent asking for forgiveness. Prayer time has been designated to cry, moan and complain to God. Or pepper God with who, what and why questions about present, past, future or worldly things.

Now it’s time to renew the way prayer is conducted. Prayer is the most important act in the relationship with God. Let’s define prayer and discuss the: what, who, why, when and where.

What and who-Prayer is an intimate conversation with your heavenly Father. Intimate means to have a very close private relationship. God is your Almighty Father; prayers should always be with reverence (honor and respect).

Why-God wants to have a special bond with His children. Our Father wants to be involved in all areas of our lives. We should want that connection as well. He is our Protector, Comforter and Advisor, just to name a few. Most do not realize He is our Friend. We talk and confide in our friends every day. Prayer, a discussion, talk or conversation with God is the beginning to establishing a warm and loving connection.

When- Anytime. Prayer should not be only a nightly ritual at your bedside, with hands clasped and eyes closed. Think of someone you are very close, a spouse, a best friend, etc. Do you only communicate with them nightly for maybe 5 minutes? No! There are exceptions, but generally you speak to them for extended amounts of time or several times throughout the day. Prayers to God should be multiple times throughout the day.

Where-Anywhere! When you’re in the car; on the bus; at work; at school, lunchtime, break times, when things are good; when things are bad; or when guidance or direction is needed. 

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. Acts 6:4King James Version (KJV) 

Avenues of Awareness

Reflection Road

• Do you feel like it’s necessary to pray? If you don’t, how’s your life going? Do you think it could improve? Talk to God about it. Pray.
• If you feel there is no time to pray, begin by creating small blocks of time to pray. Start off with maybe 5 minutes, then increase a little at a time. Prayer time doesn’t need to be a formal time. Just a time put aside to talk to our Father.

Devil’s Drive

Satan’s greatest attraction is distraction. The devil uses any diversion to prevent you from praying. He does not want you to establish a bond with God. Whenever you begin to pray, have you noticed, the phone may ring, a text may come, a friend may stop by, or you become sleepy, or you will think of a matter that needs your immediate attention. Don’t let him divert you away from your talk with God.

World’s Way

In certain parts of the world to pray to God is illegal and persecution is executed. In the United States, prayer it banned in most schools. If you live in the United States take advantage of praying and do it. In the near future, you may not have the opportunity.

Personal Pathway

God is my best Friend and I let Him know everything that is going on in my life. I talk to Him all day long. When I’m at home if someone stood outside my door they would think I’m talking to someone in the house. At work, I sometime mumble things to him. This is in addition to my morning prayers. I talk to Him all day.

Lord’s Lane

Then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause. Kings 8:45King James Version (KJV)

Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee. 2 Chronicles 6:19King James Version (KJV)