Prayer is communication between you and God, it involves speaking to the Lord as you would a good friend, as well as listening to him.
Prayer allows us to express our inner spiritual needs to our Heavenly Father, and through prayer we can find wisdom, strength, joy, and inner peace.
“Psalm 29:11 The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace”
“James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
“Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore”
When should we Pray?
Any time you want to or need to talk with God, is when you should pray.
The bible has many examples of where and when to pray such as in houses, on mountaintops, in the desert, at mealtimes, early in the morning or late at night.
Gethsemane, believed to be a garden or olive grove, was a place of prayer for Jesus (Matthew 26:36)
Matthew 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen.
Matthew 14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
The bible instructs us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 to “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus.”
How should we Pray?
A simple way to pray is to use the ACTS prayer method, as it acts as a guide to open up our conversation with God:
A – Adoration. (Praise God: you could use Psalm 100 or 67 to help you)
C – Contrition. (Confess your sins to God or ask him to reveal to you your sinfulness)
T -Thankfulness. (Spend time thanking the Lord for all he has done for you)
S – Supplication. (Lift up your cares and concerns to the Lord, and pray for others)
How do we listen to hear from God?
Wait in silence for a while after you pray, and take note of any scriptures, songs, impressions, or images God gives you. Just like any good relationship you will soon discover the way that God communicates with you, and the bible promises us in John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me”
Cherish these precious moments with the Lord and make them a part of your daily schedule, after all good relationships involve lots of communication.