Prayer is not a matter of choosing the right words to use to sway God and gain what we desire, prayer is instead a intimate heart relationship between two who love each other deeply.  God looks for a sincere heart, not eloquent words – the same as a parent does with their needy child.

Prayer is based on an attitude of knowing that in the end everything depends on God and not on us.  It reminds us that He is God and we are not.  A lack of prayer is often indicative of the fact that we’ve forgotten who is really in charge and think we can run the show ourselves.

Our part in prayer is to sincerely and honestly bring our deepest concerns to the throne of God and leave them there.  His part is to listen and to graciously answer them in His own time and way, according to His own will.   Prayer is an act by which we recognize His sovereign control over all andwe humble submit to Him and His plan for our lives.  It is not a way to manipulate God to do what we want but a means to yield to His sovereign, perfect purpose in everything.

God wants us to pray.  Our prayers do matter.  They make a difference.  He doesn’t ‘need’ our prayers, but in His grace He has invited us to join Him in what He is doing in our lives and in the world.  He wants us to partner with Him, to share our thoughts and desire with Him, to bring all our needs and concerns to Him, and to trust that He will do the very best thing for them.  He will do the very thing we would ask if we knew everything He knows.  We don’t, so we trust Him.  Still we talk to Him about anything and everything.  We need it.  He desires it.  Prayer does make a difference.

Spend some time in prayer, humble yielding each thing you pray about to His loving, gracious, sovereign will.

(Written by Jerry Schmoyer, 2014.  You can find more of his writings at http://www.christiantrainingonline.org/.  If you have questions or suggestions feel free to contact him at jerry@schmoyer.net)