Christianity is about having a relationship with God through Christ. How is your relationship with God? Do you talk with Him? This article sheds light on how to talk with God.
How to talk with God
The people of God have been given a special gift. That gift is prayer. Prayer is the means by which we communicate with God and how we talk with God. It is through prayer that we—make our requests known to God (Philippians 4:6), we bless the Lord (Ps. 103:1), Praise the Lord (Ps. 145:2), and give thanks to the Lord (Ps. 100:4).
Communication is vital for a meaningful relationship, and our relationship with God is no exception.
Prayer is also a weapon God has given us in the battle between good and evil.
The Power of Prayer
Jesus is our best example of the use of prayer. He believed in the power of prayer. Before Jesus began His ministry in choosing His disciples, He prayed. Before the day’s activities in the morning, He prayed. Before going to Jerusalem to be crucified, He prayed.
There is a passage of Scripture that illustrates the outline of Jesus’s prayer life. Mark 1:35
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
The three things to note in this text are:
1. Jesus prayed in the morning before daylight. This action was Jesus’ pattern. One thing that gives power and effectiveness to our prayers is to have a regular time to pray. It doesn’t have to be early before day, but a standard time set aside for prayer. Just as we have a regular time for other activities such as work, eating and sleeping, we must have a time for prayer. If our prayers are irregular in days and times, we won’t have a very significant prayer life resulting in an insignificant relationship with Christ.
Therefore, it is crucial that we establish a regular time for prayer. For most, it may be early in the morning, while for others, it may not be so much because we have various schedules. However, the point is a regular time for daily prayer. Prayer should be a lifestyle, not a life jacket.
2. The next thing to notice is that Jesus “departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Jesus had a solitary place to pray. It is vital to have a designated place to pray. A quiet place that will not be subject to distractions that hinder the communication between us and God.
3. Next, the Scripture says, “…and there prayed.” Jesus apparently prayed silently at this time. However, it is essential to note that there is something special about praying out loud.
In other passages, He prayed out loud. Matthew 26:39 reads;
39. And going forward a little he fell upon his face, praying and saying, My Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me; but not as I will, but as thou [wilt].
The Scripture mentions “praying and saying.”
Matthew 26:42 reads:
42. Again going away a second time he prayed saying, My Father, if this cannot pass [from me] unless I drink it, thy will be done.
Again, the Scripture mentions, “…prayed saying”
Matthew 26:44 reads:
44. And leaving them, he went away again and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Jesus’ prayers in Gethsemane were vocal ones.
Hebrews 5:7 makes this point clear.
7. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Praying out loud shows a vital sincerity toward God. Jesus, as the Scripture reads, “…offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears” to God. Jesus is our example of earnest surrender to God.
Although we can pray silently, if we want the most meaningful relationship with God, we need to have a time to pray, have a place to pray, and pray out loud to Him.
Praying silently allows our minds to wander. However, praying out loud and formulating words stimulates the brain so that when our mind wanders, we can recognize it faster and refocus.
Another way of communicating with God through prayer is to use the Scriptures in prayer. Prayer is our talking to God, and the Scriptures are God speaking to us. One way is to use the Psalms; read a Scripture or a passage of Scripture, agree with it, and make it a part of your prayer.
A final way of communicating with God through prayer is to use the acronym ACTS.
A. adoration
C. confession
T. thanksgiving
S. supplication
With a piece of paper:
Think of all the reasons to adore Jesus (e.g., I adore you Lord as my savior)
Confess whatever you know in your heart needs confessing of
Offer up Thanksgiving for the blessing that God has bestowed on you.
Mention the supplications and the requests you desire to make with humility.
After these are written down, kneel in your place of prayer and pray them to the Lord.
As mentioned earlier, prayer is the weapon God has given us in the battle between good and evil.
In Ephesians 6, Paul encourages the engaging of the armor of God. He closes that exposition in verse 18 by writing, “…praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” NKJV
Although prayer is not included as a weapon in the previous verses, prayer is the wrap-around in moving forward with our armor. As we take the sword of the Spirit, God’s Word, we must also pray “always” while being “watchful” for Satan’s attacks. Satan attacks when we don’t expect it; therefore, we must be on the alert to pray when the need arises. No Christian is off the hook from being Satan’s target. Therefore, all Christians require our prayer support. No Christian can stand alone in this battle.
Prayer is a gift to us, not possessed by any other creature on earth. Genesis 1:26 reads, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:” God created man after His likeness in that we are, in addition to physical beings, we are spiritual ones. Unlike other created beings, we have the ability to communicate with God through our minds and mouths with prayer.
However, because of sin, the communication between God and man became greatly hindered. As time passed, communication was possible only through the intercession of a high priest. The barrier between man and God was broken with the birth, life, sacrificial death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we can talk with God uninhibited (Hebrews 4:16). Through His Holy Spirit, God communicates with us through our minds as well as His Word. As the Scripture reads, “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” Ephesians 6:18
Praying in the Spirit means that the Spirit helps us when we pray (Romans 8:26); the Spirit prays on our behalf (Romans 8:27); the Spirit makes God accessible (Ephesians 2:18); the Spirit gives us confidence when we pray (Romans 8:15-16; Galatians 4:6). He inspires and guides us when we pray. He helps us communicate with God and brings God’s response to us.
Prayer is the gift that keeps on giving. May we use this gift wisely and effectively, never taking it for granted.
Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.
Blessings!
