When our hearts ache for peace, we can turn to the Lord and know His presence.
Prayer is the love language for our relationship with God.
We can turn our hearts and thoughts toward heaven, knowing God will hear us.
Once when we camped with our two young children in our pop up camper, an intense thunderstorm came up. The wind howled so much that we opened the side vent windows to create a wind tunnel. I was in a sleeping bag with both our kids, trying to calm them while singing “Jesus Loves Me.” My husband was on the other wing of the camper, laying on a sleeping bag under the open window, holding the canvas flap down, getting drenched. We lay separated on the two ends of the camper, each wanting the nearness of the other.
We weathered the storm. Later we learned a tornado touched down near us. We shared a mutual desire to draw near to each other during the storm.
The Lord longs for us to draw near to Him. This is His initiative, as we learn in these verses:
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” John 6:44
Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8
God seeks and desires relationship with us. Our part is to draw near to Him.
Prayer draws us closer to God.
Think back to an early memory of prayer. What were you taught as a child?
My early memories of prayer were at bedtime, with the reminder from mom to “say my prayers.” I knew the connection to God must be important. I closely my eyes tightly and prayed. I believed that if I lay real still, I would actually feel the hand of God on my head as an assurance. Although I never felt anything on my head, I believed that God was near and felt peace.
The Bible does not give us a specific “to-do list” for drawing near to God, but instead views it a dynamic relationship between the Creator and His creation. Prayer and communing with God cannot be broken neatly into certain methods that yield results. The Bible shows us different types of prayer for daily living: praise, thanksgiving, confession and supplication for ourselves and others. Our part is to be devoted to seeking the Lord through a variety of ways that lead us to a closer relationship.
Nobody is born an expert at prayer; it is a learned behavior. Although we can pray every day, no one ever masters prayer. It takes a lifetime of doing it, yet can be so simple a child can pray effectively.
Prayer is personal, spiritual communion with God where we pour out our heart’s desires.
Prayer is the language of our relationship with God. Jesus showed us the way.
How do you draw near to God in prayer?
