Part One: But Lord, I don’t know how

Last week, we looked at a message from God the Father. Reading God’s Word is one way of Staying on Course, and by converting a third-person passage to a first-person narrative, is like God communicating directly to us. Talking back to God, through prayer, is another way of Staying on Course. His communication with us was not intended to be a monologue, but a dialogue, which reminds me of a time in my life when I was not frequently dialoging with God.

I was living in a one-bedroom apartment on Holgate in Portland, Oregon, when I decided to take a walk. My nervousness about the following night in a men’s prayer group, had me shaking in my boots. I was not gifted in prayer. I felt as a Christian, I should have progressed and grown further in my prayer life. I had not. My brothers were all gifted intercessors and had eloquence of speech. In the midst of these prayer giants, my simple one or two sentence prayers had me scared to death and afraid of embarrassment.

When off to my left, a strong, but soft voice invaded my ear, “Who do you pray to, Me or man?” Startled, I spun to my left, fully expecting to see Jesus walking beside me. However, no one was there. That’s all He said. That one short question changed my prayer life. Since that stroll on SE Holgate, I have not worried one iota about praying in public.

v26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
v27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. [Romans 8:26, 27 KJV]

Although you can pray God’s Word back to Him [1], I believe that God also prefers that we pray our own words from our heart [2]. Prayer is a simple communication between God and His children. Jesus invites us [3] to talk to Him as a child talks to his daddy, not with formality, impressive vocabulary, or with Christianese.

My Father (Daddy), thank you for sending and sacrificing your Son, Jesus Christ to die for my sins. His life and Word are the most important things in my life. In the name of Jesus, the name, which is above every name, AMEN.

Ask yourself the same question, “Who do you pray to, Jesus or man?”

NOTE: I highly recommend Max Lucado’s book, “Before Amen.” [4]

Pray without ceasing. [5]
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[1] Isaiah 55:11
[2] 1 Samuel 16:7
[3] Matthew 6:9
[4] Before Amen by Max Lucado.
[5] 1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV