The Power of Communication
All successful relationships require consistent conversation to grow. Think about it, every relationship you have ever had required you to communicate beyond a “Hello.” “Hi, I’m here to pick up a pizza.” “Wow, thanks for choosing me for the job.” See, every relationship necessitates words beyond a greeting. So why approach your relationship with God any differently? Prayer opens the lines of communication between you and God, works as an act of worship, brings you into God’s presence, and strengthens your relationship.
Pray Genuinely
Praying should not be difficult, even if the thought of speaking with God intimidates you. I get it. You are speaking to God, after all. Initially, for me, intimidation made praying uncomfortable and challenging. I thought I would either sound stupid because of my lack of Bible knowledge or sound pretentious because I was too focused on “how I was praying” rather than “Who I was praying to.” Frankly, I felt worse after praying than I did before I prayed. What I should have focused on was sharing my heart with God. Let that be your focus too. Share your heart with a loving and amazing Father who loves you unconditionally. You can tell Him anything. His feelings about you won’t change. The more often you pray, and once you begin speaking from your heart, prayer becomes easier than you can imagine. Prayer should draw you closer to God and give you hope. Use it to worship God through thankfulness and praise, to ask Him to meet your needs or the needs of others, and to commit things to Him. You will perfect what works for you, but for now, just talk to Him. God knows your heart and your intentions. As you grow closer to Him, learn to trust Him, and through prayer, include Him in every aspect of your life and decision-making.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your path. Do not be wise in your own eyes; — Proverbs 3:5–7 (NKJV)
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