When we feel frustrated, lost, confused, lonely, anxious, nervous, excited, adventurous or even jovial, we very often turn to a trusted friend.
With this friend, there are levels of comfort, familiarity and security that allow you to freely express your feelings knowing that you will be respected, accepted and protected. Any violation of this confidence represents a serious breach in the relationship. But remember this: the friend you love and respect the most is the friend who tells you the truth, even if that truth is contrary to your beliefs or feelings at that time. Most of us realize that our “best” friends tell us what we need to hear, not necessarily what we want to hear.
Friends don’t always have all the answers. But that’s ok; the benefits of the relationship come in doing life together, talking things out, walking in each other’s shoes and simply being together. Real friends don’t even need to be in the same location—once communication begins, the bonds are strengthened and the relationship grows stronger. Sometimes, there are great lapses of time between conversations; but with real friends a few moments of honest, loving conversation bridge the gap and the relationship picks right up from where it was left! I’m sure you’re thinking about that special friend right now...!
We tend to make PRAYER very complicated. We make it about eloquence, clichés, buildings and religion. But that’s not what prayer is. Prayer is communication with GOD—talking to Him as well as listening to Him. Genuine prayer encompasses most of the elements previously mentioned, with a couple of key differences:
Praying to GOD, whom you cannot see, requires faith from you. You must believe that He’s there, that He sees you, that He’s listening and that He can help you . (Hebrews 11:6)
Unlike your friend, GOD is not your equal. Remember that. What would be the point of praying to Him if He was?? But He has the ability to meet you where you are—to empathize with your situation--because He’s been there in the person of Jesus. (Hebrews 4:15)
And unlike your friend, GOD has the answers. Better yet, He IS your answer. Sometimes He sends the answer right away; sometimes He reveals it over time. Sometimes His answer is not what we want to hear...but isn’t that why we respect our dearest human friends who have the courage to say “no” to us? And GOD’s “no” is given to protect us, to provide something better, or to allow His plan to be done, which sometimes far exceeds our ability to understand.
Yeah, this was a circuitous way to talk about prayer, but the point is to get you to think...and pray! So, wherever you are, stop what you’re doing, extend your faith and talk to GOD...and for your own sake, don’t take too long between conversations. It’s better that way! No fancy words, no traditional catch phrases, no “take-without-give”...just honest conversation...like you were talking to a Friend.