Words from the Rock
I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.
John 17:9–10 NIV
Sometimes it’s hard to pray. We make all kinds of excuses. Like maybe you don’t know quite what to say or how to say it. Maybe you wonder how long you should pray—is two minutes too short; is two hours too long? Perhaps you assume you need to get yourself to the right place to pray properly, like on a church pew or on your knees or on a mountaintop. Maybe you think you should read a book about prayer—just to make sure you’re doing it correctly. It’s even possible you’ve convinced yourself that you don’t have the right kind of words to use in your prayers, that you need a special “spiritual” vocabulary that will make God sit up and listen.
Of course, that’s all pretty ridiculous—because there are no rules for how to pray. Mostly God wants you to do it—just do it. Prayer is how you communicate with God. It’s the way you express how you feel, what you need, what worries you. It’s how you confess a problem or ask for help. It’s how you thank God or tell him you love him. Prayer is like talking to a friend, and anytime is the right time to do it; anywhere is the right place. You don’t even have to close your eyes or fold your hands or say, “Amen.” In other words, prayer is quite simple. It’s beneficial and something you need to do for your own health and well-being on a regular basis.
That’s a lot to know about praying, but did you know that Jesus prays for you? Even though Jesus is God’s Son and one with God, he still cares so much about you and loves you so much that he prays for you. That alone should convince you that prayer is vital. So what’s stopping you from praying right now?
My Prayer
Dear God,
Show me how to pray to you. Remind me there are no rules. Help me to see that prayer is simply having a conversation with you.
Amen.
Final Word
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.
Philippians 1:3–4 NIV
Stone for the Journey
God wants to hear from me today.