Communication

Matthew 6:7 ESV

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

The key to this verse is relationship. I say that because Jesus is saying when you pray, not if you pray. Prayer can be simple, or it can take us a couple of hours, but the key is communication, prayer is communication.

Jesus said when we pray the right words are not the key, although I think we need to be specific in our prayers. When I pray for certain people I will say, Father, give them the words to pray, guide them in their prayers, and the Holy Spirt does that according to Romans 8:26-28.

When I was an associate pastor and it was time for altar prayer time, the pastor would come down to pray as well as the associates. The line was much longer for the pastor than it was for the associates because people wanted the pastor to pray for them.

Honestly, I knew a few people in the audience that I trusted to pray even better than me or the pastors. Prayer can be a simple asking. God already knows what we need, but He likes for us to come and ask. Why? Because of relationship and communication.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to pray with understanding, help me to pray in the Spirit, and help me to let the Holy Spirit pray for me at times. The key is keeping my relationship with You alive and communicating with You every day and all day long. In Your name Lord Jesus we ask, Amen!