Words of Life: An Enduring Legacyনমুনা

Prayer is for everyone.

The expectation upon every disciple of Jesus is that we pray. Not just when things are particularly tough or when we can see no natural solution, but regularly and consistently. Prayer is not just for the theologically trained, the regular churchgoer, nor even the desperate, undecided – it’s for us all.

Anyone can do it, and many of us do so regularly. It’s the ideal opportunity to find engagement with our Saviour, to talk to and listen to him. Certainly, we don’t need to be perceived to be good at it. We just get on and give it an honest try. God is more than happy to hear our faltering petitions, and just as able to answer these as the most eloquent of prayers that we sometimes hear other people pray.

Prayer really only has one essential requirement – honesty. We talk with God about the realities of our lives, the good, the bad, and the ugly. And when we don’t know what to say, the Spirit intercedes for us (Romans 8:26).

God loves it when we go somewhere private and spend time in his presence, reading his Word and seeking his input into our lives. When we withdraw privately to pray, we can go openly and honestly into his great love, and savour his presence.

When we try to live life our way, according to our rules and fancies, we discover that we are just fallible. When we admit that our own efforts are insufficient, and bring our lives to God in prayer, we discover a goldmine of resources that he brings to us.