Simple Beginnings to Effective Prayer

How effective is prayer? If you've never stopped to consider it, look at your prayer life and it will reveal your answer pretty mercilessly. If you're really sold on the efficacy prayer, it's your go-to. Before you try to think of solutions to the problem, before you retrace your steps to find your keys, you pray. If you don't place too much stock in its power, it could be the last resort; maybe you bow your head during prayer at church, but you're thinking about all the other things you could be doing. Maybe you don't mean to treat it so lightly, but it just seems so passive. Maybe you're pretty certain it could change things but you're just not comfortable doing it. Maybe you've simply never seen prayer yield the results that you expected and you've become a little jaded. When it comes to prayer, maybe we could all use a pep talk. 

First of all, prayer is a conversation between God and His creation. The winds and waves testify to the power of their Creator simply by doing what they are told to do. Mankind, however, has the ability to choose and understand; human beings can recall the things God has done for us and give thanks; we can experience fear and call on Him for help. The earth is the place God created for us to live out that relationship with Him. Psalm 89 and Isaiah 65 are two wonderful passages tying together the use of verbal communication to worship (or even curse) God. This world was created as a place for us to speak to and speak about our Creator. 

Secondly, that conversation emerges as we draw closer to God. As we read in the Scriptures who He is and the things He has done for mankind even before there was mankind, we gain knowledge of the One with whom we are in relationship. The more we know about Him, the more we have to discuss with Him. To a faithful God we cry out in times of trouble; to an intelligent Designer we express gratitude and awe; to a holy Judge we apologize and seek mercy; to a tender Friend we pour out grief and sorrow. If we don't know or seek to know the character and capability of the One with whom we claim to have relationship, what will we talk about? 

Third, this world is marvelous at the same time it is messy. It is beautiful in its design; its symbiotic relationships and hair's breadth specifications keep it functioning in perfect order. Its sights and smells are wondrous to experience. But it is fallen. Have you ever wondered why God allowed that to happen? Among other explanations, the trials and turmoil of this life often bring us to our knees before His throne. Yes, we should seek Him in gratitude, but I believe many of us tend to seek Him more faithfully and more ardently in trouble. The world is a place for prayer and praise motivated by the goodness of God, but it is a place where prayer is often necessary and praise is drawn from us by God's benevolent presence during adversity.

Someone once said, "Those who put everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything." An effective prayer life doesn't necessarily begin that way. It develops as we begin, however awkwardly, to talk to Him about what we know, move closer to Him by seeking to know more about Him, and walk out that relationship day after day. One step at a time. One word at a time.