Prayer - What is it good for?

This time spent soaking in the topic of prayer has brought on an overwhelming response from all of you. The number of hits these posts have been receiving is phenomenal.... I don't share that to toot my own horn. No, I share it to prove a point. We are seeking, searching and desperately looking for a more meaningful and powerful way to communicate with God. And I would venture to say, you are looking for more clearly defined answers.

I can't tell you for certain how God is going to show up in your circumstances. I can't offer a money back guarantee that He'll deliver in the way you expect -- partially because this site is free -haha. But here is what I can tell you... Jesus told us that if we seek, we will find. If your heart is to pursue a more meaningful conversation with the Father and you want to deepen that relationship, He will be found. He is already here and He is already working. We will see Him when we search for Him with all our heart.

So let's dig deeper into the aspect of prayer....

I have already introduced you to a book entitled, "The Circle Maker" by Mark Batterson. Let me also share with you a great little study book, "Deeper into the Word - Reflections on 100 Words from the New Testament," by Keri Wyatt Kent. (There is also a version for the Old Testament)

This book is a great quick read on all kinds of words used throughout the New Testament and it just so happens that "pray" is one of them. Here is what Kent has to say on the subject:

Prayer is communication -- therefore there are four parts. First, we speak while, second, God listens. Third God speaks, while fourth, we listen. Without our truly listening prayer will seem to have failed because communication, remaining incomplete, means the circle is broken.

 "How much love God lavishes on each particular heart when he murmurs words intended for that heart alone! How much love the lonely heart misses if it will not hear the personal word."

We sometimes avoid listening to God because we know that if, for example, we pray a prayer of intercession for someone, God may prompt us to actually do something for that person, and it may cost us time, effort or money. We may bravely pray prayers of confession, but if we stop before we listen, we might miss God's instruction on how to avoid that sin in the future.

In spite of this, we sometimes feel compelled to pray. We hunger for intimacy with God. Don't rush the conversation. Take time to offer your side of the conversation, but stick around to hear God's response. Bask in the attention He is lavishing on you and the love He shows by intimately speaking to you and you alone....in those private moments of the heart.