A Chat With God

Over the past few weeks, it has become clearer and clearer that I need to take more time for prayer. Really, for time with God in general. My "quiet time" has decreased to about ten minutes (if that) first thing in the morning, during which time I read some Bible passages and write very briefly about them. It's just not cutting it. While Bible reading is important (it's God's word), I'm missing the personal connection with His Spirit that I need in order to get the most out of His word.


When you're having a spiritual problem, I think the best place to look for an answer is the person of Jesus. Two main concepts that come to mind about Jesus and prayer:


1) He often withdrew by Himself to spend time with His Father.
2) He taught about prayer and even gave us a model for prayer.

"'And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 


"'This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one'" (Matthew 6:5-13, NIV).

Sometimes I like the Lord's Prayer in the King James Version, so here it is:

"'Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen'" (Matthew 6:9b-13).

So now God and I are going to spend some quality time together. Blessings to you, friend. Please do the same soon and often.