When You Pray

Just a little talk with thee
Last time I talked to you about one of the three acts of righteousness. I thought about it and decided to continue with that theme in this article as well. This time I’d like to talk about prayer. It is a expected task that is rarely practiced. If it is, it is usually a little rehearsed rhyme heard at church or a published one from a little book of prayers. I understand personally this struggle to pray. For years I felt like “why does God want to hear from me“? Then when I got married, it seemed to hit me. In a relationship, there has to be communication. If there is no communication, the relationship stagnates and becomes rough and even unbearable. In communicating, you have a chance to express your feelings, wants and desires. You also have a chance to be validated and to validate the other person. I want to say to you, God wants to talk to you. He wants to hear your desires, needs and hopes. He wants to pour His joy into your life. Prayer is not a magic formula like some may teach. Prayer is not making God into some pawn shop or cosmic genie like others may profess. No, prayer is a just a little talk with God. If one was to go into a Christian bookstore, they would find volumes of books on prayer. One lady has made millions on her series The Power of a Praying… These books are good resources to start a prayer life but ultimately one must develop a more personal prayer life. Jesus, in His sermon on the mount, gives the example we all need. But when you pray do not be like the hypocrites who love to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners praying so that they can be seen by men…But when you pray go into your inner room close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret…And when praying do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles, for they suppose they will be heard because of their many words. (Matthew 6:5-7). Also, later in verses 9-15 we see how Jesus wants us to pray. Notice again that it does not say if you pray, but more importantly, when you pray. Jesus commands that we have a prayer life with the Father. Also He says we must keep it personal and not make it an issue for all to see. There is a time and place for corporate prayer, but this is talking about your personal prayer life. You should be praying more often then just at church. Lastly, we see Jesus saying we need not to repeat ourselves. This would make prayer out to be some sort of magic spell as opposed to a personal talk with a loving Father. Some preachers would have you believe that everyday you need to remind God that he promised you this or that and you need to tell Him about it every time you pray. Do not be as the Gentiles, but keep it real. Follow Christ’s example and not man’s.
I got email from my cousin who, like so many in our family, have been called to a life of ministry. I believe it will help those who may have no clue as to how to pray, or where to start. Please enjoy and start a prayer life today.

A man's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her father. When the minister arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows.An empty chair sat beside his bed. The minister assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit. "I guess you were expecting me, he said. 'No, who are you'?" said the father.The minister told him his name and then remarked, "I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up."
"Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man. "Would you mind closing the door?". Puzzled, the minister shut the door."I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man. "But all of my life I never knew how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head."
"I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old gentleman continued, "until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me: "Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with God. Here is what I suggest. Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see God on the chair. It's not spooky because He promised: 'I will be with you always'. Then just speak to Him in the same way you're doing with me right now.""So Preacher, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful though because if my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm."
The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old gentleman to continue on his journey. Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the church.Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her Dad had died that afternoon.Did he die in peace?" he asked. "Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me how much he loved me, and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead. But there was one thing strange about his death. Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed. What do you make of that?".
The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said: "I wish we could all go like that!".