Learning To Talk To God In Prayer

Have you ever stopped to ask the question, why do we pray? Well, one simple answer is that Jesus tells us in His word to pray. If Jesus our perfect example prayed, then why won't we. Jesus knew all the authority he had came from the Father. He could do nothing, except that which the Father permits. (John 5:19). Therefore, we also pray because we need God's help. It is the partnership between us and the Father that produces supernatural solutions in the place of prayer. 

As we faithfully seek God's face over these 60 days, my prayer is that we will learn to listen to God speaking to us in prayer. I know the art of listening to God or hearing God is difficult for many Christians. However, I trust that as we persist and wait on God, we will hear him. I came across a story from an anonymous author about a man who also struggled to hear from God. I pray the story blesses you:

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 see the empty chair; 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 have never known 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, until one day four years ago my best friend said to me, “Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus.  Here is what I suggest. Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It’s not spooky because he promised, ‘I’ll be with you always.’ Then just speak to him in the same way you’re doing with me right now.” 

“So, I tried it and I’ve liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I’m careful though. 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 man to continue on the 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?,” the minister asked.  “Yes, when I left the house about two o’clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me 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 something 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.” 

Christianity is a relationship, not a religion. We call all get to know God better in prayer. I hope the story of this man encourages you to build your relationship with God in prayer. In the words of that famous hymn, it's a privilege to carry EVERYTHING to God in prayer. When we do, we will save ourselves from needless pain. Let's pray without ceasing!