Day 22: More Than Asking

For many, prayer is mostly asking God for help. Petition is an important part of prayer, but it’s only one part. If we limit prayer to our needs, we risk treating God like a vending machine. True prayer is broader and deeper.

Think about a healthy friendship. If every conversation were only about one person’s needs, the relationship wouldn’t last long. Friendship means listening, talking, and sometimes simply being present together. The same is true in our relationship with God. Prayer is adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, and supplication. It’s praising God, confessing sin, expressing gratitude, and asking for help.

When we expand our view of prayer, it becomes less about “getting things from God” and more about being with Him. One of the most powerful ways to experience this kind of prayer is simply to be with Christ, resting in His presence. In the quiet of prayer, we open our hearts to His love and allow His Spirit to renew us with peace and strength.

Questions

• Which form of prayer (adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, supplication) do you practice most often? Least often?
• How can you expand your prayer this week to include more than asking?