Amazing Gift

How many of us truly realize how amazing it is to pray? I didn't know until maybe the last year or two. I've always prayed since I was a kid but it was mainly when I needed something. I didn't do it just to praise God and thank Him for all He's blessed me with. I didn't do it just to talk to our Heavenly Father. I am just now realizing what a gift it is to be able to communicate with our God.

The more I learn about God the more loved I feel. I don't have any children yet so I don't know what it's like to be a parent. But God is our Heavenly Father. He loves us more than ANYONE loves us. He created us so He could have a relationship with us. God wants to be apart of our lives. He wants us to talk to Him and to lean on Him and to trust Him. We are His children. If you're a parent isn't this what you want your children to do!?

When Jesus died on the cross he opened the door for us to go straight to the Father. We don't need anyone going to God for us. We can do it! This is amazing. We have a direct line to our Father. Jeremiah 33:3 says "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." God is telling us to call to Him and He will answer us. His word is truth and we can trust it.

God always answers our prayers. It could be Yes, No or Wait. The last couple months have been a struggle for me and I've prayed a lot and He's answered all my prayers. They may not have come as quickly as I would have liked but still He answered them. I encourage you to start a prayer journal. Write your prayers down and when the answer comes write those in there too. Then you can go back and see how God is working in your life. I am amazed at how things are coming along for me. It isn't how I thought it would go but it's all coming together and all my needs are met for. There is truly a peace that will come over you when you trust God to answer your prayers.

Prayer doesn't have to be elaborate. Just speak from your heart. God wants an intimate and personal relationship with you. Talk to Him like you're talking to your best friend. Sometimes I think we hold things back because we don't want God "knowing" what we're thinking or feeling but He already knows! We don't need to hold anything back. We can tell God anything and everything and He won't judge us. All we have to do is ask for forgiveness and He'll do it! How awesome is that?

The apostle Paul encourages us to "pray continually." (1 Thess. 5:17) The great thing about prayer is it can be done anywhere and anytime. In the car, at work, exercising, cooking dinner. You have nonstop conversations in your head all day long, why don't you talk to God? I pray when we're in the car to get where we're going safely. I pray at work to do a good job. I pray when I see an ambulance drive by. I always try to turn to God when I'm trying to figure something out instead of turning to Him when I've exhausted all my ideas. God wants to be the the little details just as much as the big details.

In conclusion, don't take prayer for granted and what it's about. Talk to God about everything and realize He wants a relationship with you just like you want with your children!