What is Prayer? (Matthew 6:7)

Jesus said, ‘When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.’ (Matthew 6:7)
 
Prayer is about relationship. If there is no relationship, ‘words’ mean nothing. This is true in our friendships, and families. It is also true – even more true – with God.
 
Prayer is not just about communication. Enemies communicate with enemies. They speak to them. They ask them for things. But this is not prayer.
 
Prayer is about coming to God in ‘relationship’, and communing with him. Sometimes our truest ‘prayer’ is simply being close to God, facing in his direction, walking with him. The powerful ‘prayer’ of Moses, so to speak, during the battle against the Amalekites, had no words; rather it was an act of holding his hands high towards God. (read Exodus 17)
 
Sometimes in our walk with God, our hearts will ‘need’ and ‘cry’ but will not find the words. We are told that in this place and space of relationship, Jesus ‘intercedes for us’, and the Holy Spirit ‘groans for us.' (Romans 8:26,34) True friends help you say what you need to say, even when you can’t. So does Jesus.
 
So what is our part? What is it that God really calls us to, if our ‘words’ are not the key? He calls us to come to Jesus in repentance and faith. In other words, God calls us to turn away from our sin and darkness, and towards his Son and his light. And to actually entrust our soul - our very lives - to him.

​This step of faith in Jesus is your prayer that will ring out in heaven, now and forevermore!
 
For more ‘First Steps’ with Jesus, please visit: https://1peter1three.weebly.com/first-steps.html

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