What's Next?: The Journey To Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, And Make A DifferenceSample

Prayer: Conversations with God

We sometimes make prayer harder than it has to be. It’s really just talking with God, but we can over-complicate it by thinking we need to say certain words, or pray a certain way, in order for it to be “right.”  We let our assumptions about the practice of prayer prevent us from conversing naturally and un-self-consciously with God. But prayer is not about recitation or fancy religious words. God isn’t looking for a specific combination of phrases or even a particular amount of time—He just wants us to talk to Him. 

All you need for a vibrant prayer life is a heart willing to talk to God and listen to Him. 

Instead of making prayer an event or obligation, let it simply be an ongoing conversation with God each day. The apostle Paul emphasized this idea when he said to “pray continually.” It’s not a stop-start activity like physical exercise, but more of a consistent, progressive interaction—like a text thread with your best friend that goes on all day. Before your feet hit the floor, before you go into a meeting, before you have a specific conversation with your spouse or children—just take a moment and pray first. If you make prayer a lifestyle—constantly communing with God, asking Him for wisdom, and listening to His voice—you’ll be amazed how strong your relationship with Him will become.