Chit Chats with the Father
Thursday, April 11, 2013 Posted by Sara
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I used to get payed to pray.
A few years ago, I was in full time ministry as a missionary whose first priority was to pray for a community Jesus loves. Because I prayed like it was my job, I learned a lot about the discipline of praying and saw the fruit of coming to the Lord on a daily basis to talk things out.
Nearly four years later, I now work as a teacher and sometimes reflect on my days as a prayer missionary with shock and awe. How did I do that, again? That season was unique in the time it provided and energy level available to sow hours upon hours praying to God. Certainly there was a grace for it at the time.
Prayer these days looks drastically different - and somedays my prayer life literally looks like a few frantic words muttered as I drive up to my school. My prayers generally include words like, "Oh Jesus, help me." or "I'm tired, Lord. That's all I got." I'm always impressed by the faithfulness of a God whose answers to prayers do not depend on my word count or eloquence.
In this season, I'm learning the practice and power of the simple persistent prayer. The few words spoken here or there to refocus my heart on what's really important are just as valuable to our Heavenly Father - and to me - as the hour long convos we used to have. In the midst of this new season, I am still reminded of the importance of listening.
Prayer is a two way conversation, and sometimes we speak, and sometimes we listen. I love Simon Peters comments towards Jesus - where could they go when Jesus' words brought life? Sometimes in the midst of my weak prayers, it is the stopping and listening to what He has to say to me that brings the refreshing of life that I need for the day.
I invite you to take sometime today to pray and talk to our Father. But take a few moments to sit quietly to just listen and see if He has anything to say to you - a verse to remember? a story to recall? a word? a picture? a sense of peace? When we grasp the beauty of prayer as a connection point with the Almighty God, it begins to become something we run to, instead of from.
