Communicating With God: Why We Pray

Thank you for coming back to view, read and get enlightenment and encouragement from my blog.

Today I would like to officially introduce this book that I wrote: Let’s Talk to Our Father. 

Why did I feel led to write it and why do I think it is necessary? Well, the introduction right from the book answers part of the reason I wrote it:

I don’t know what experience you have about praying or what goes on in your mind when you hear the words “let’s pray” or an announcement is made to the effect of “it’s prayer time,” but let me introduce you to an awesome, wholesome, dependable, listening, and answering-of-prayers God. Yes, a God who is reachable, approachable, and tangible, yet almighty and all-knowing. A God who is our Father!

I remember some incidents when I was growing up. When I would hear an announcement made that it was prayer time, a kind of anxiety would wash over me because I knew it was a solemn time. 

See, the thought of approaching God often filled me with dread because we were made to feel that He was just waiting to see what we were going to do wrong so He could unleash His fury on us. This feeling was often followed by a lingering fear and doubt for lack of knowledge and understanding, and that fear was born out of what we had learned from grown-ups, which was that God was out to get us. 

At the time, we did not know of his loving-kindness or that He created us so we may have fellowship with Him. We did not know that He sent His only begotten Son so He could redeem us.

You might be wondering why I say “talk to” instead of “pray to”.The word Pray has a provocation power. Some people are encouraged when you say let us pray and they feel they will get attention and answers. Some people feel guilty that they can not approach a Holy God. Still, some are downright just afraid of God because of missed information or lack of knowledge of who God is.

When you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and savior you have come into God’s Kingdom and are part of God’s family. We don’t see Him with our physical eyes but we communicate with him in the spirit by talking to Him or praying to him. I am encouraging the word Talk to the Father because it is real and it is powerful.

See, when Jesus was here and His disciples asked him, “Teach us how to pray” He introduced us to the Father concept saying when you pray, say “our Father”.

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites. They love to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners and pray loudly. They want people to see them. The truth is, that’s all the reward they will get. 6 But when you pray, you should go into your room and close the door. Then pray to your Father. He is there in that private place. He can see what is done in private, and he will reward you.

“And when you pray, don’t be like the people who don’t know God. They say the same things again and again. They think that if they say it enough, their god will hear them. 8 Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 So this is how you should pray:

‘Our Father in heaven,

    We pray that your name will always be kept holy.

We pray that your kingdom will come—

    that what you want will be done here on earth, the same as in heaven.

Give us the food we need for today.

Forgive our sins,

    just as we have forgiven those who did wrong to us.

Don’t let us be tempted,

    but save us from the Evil One.’[b] – Matthew 6:5-8

Father is very intimate and personal more than God. When you read the Bible in the Old Testament God does appear to be fearful and dreadful because of the way he dealt with some of the enemies of His people, the Israelites. He is very protective of His own and can unleash His fury on those who are against Him. He is very patient and loving. He sent Jesus to come and show us his nature as a Father and also to welcome us to be in His family. The way He has done it leaves many people wondering about His true love, like allowing his only Begotten Son to suffer and die a horrible death on the cross! That is something that you can take up with Him. I grappled with it and I don’t understand it all but I accept that the sacrifice Jesus did was for the atonement of my sins and I am grateful I am in His family and that He is my Father.

We know from our interaction with our earthly biological fathers we get love, protection, and provision and we feel confident knowing someone cares. God is more than a Supreme Being who is out there all-powerful and all-knowing. More than anything else he is real and He wants us to have a personal relationship with Him. 

Yes, it is good to pray when you first wake up but it’s equally essential you stay close to God all day by involving Him in everything you do. He is someone you can discuss with, share troubles with, and acknowledge your dependency on Him. I have come to find it makes life easier to live and knowing He is always with me nearer than any friend I have because He is a very present help.

Please allow that to sink into your spirit.

So it is more than bowing down, or being on your knees, doing all that is good, however, there is more than that. It is carrying an awareness of God and keeping an open channel of communication in our daily interactions.

Respecting God is not the same as being afraid of Him. The fear of God is the beginning of all wisdom in other words the reverential respect of God as the Ultimate Supreme Creator is wisdom. He deserves honor and glory. Come let us worship and bow down to Him He is our Maker.

Let’s Talk to Our Father: Let’s share what is in our minds. He delights in us.

Stay tuned; More next time.

You can buy the book from:

Amazon
Barnes and Nobles
Westbow Publishing Press