Prayer is Communication with God (Part 1)

Developing a more effective prayer life

Not all that long ago there were no cell phones, no fax machines, no computers and no internet. Today we have instant communication in many different forms. The major communication tool of today is the cell phone. We can email someone, text message them or pull them up on Skype or Facebook messenger and talk to them face-to-face.  Then  there is Snapchat, WhatsApp or any number of other apps that are available to communicate with one another. We also have personal computers, laptops and tablets that can be used for all forms of communication. It is amazing that we have so many options available to us to keep in touch with other people. And yet it seems like we’re farther apart from people than we ever have been . 

Face-to-face communication is happening less and less.  I have seen teens sit across the room and text each other rather than just sit next to each other and talk.  Fortunately, we cannot text God! Our line of communication with God is called prayer and it must be done vocally or thoughtfully. In other words, we can speak it at any volume, or we can just think it and direct that thought toward Him.  I believe the spoken communication with God is the best form as there is power in our spoken words, just as there is power in the spoken words of God.   After all, He did speak all creation into existence.

There are 6 parts to effective communication on any level.  If we leave out even one part, we are not fully implementing our ability to communicate.  Since prayer is usually considered a type of request we can list these major parts as asking, being heard, being understood, expecting a response, listening for a response and accepting the response. 

We must ask.  Jesus said our Father knows what we have need of before we even ask (Matt 6:32).   He still wants us to ask because that lets Him know whether we know what we really need or not.  And we must ask for the right reasons (James 4:3).  I  must admit that my little dog communicates very well without a sound.  He hangs out in the kitchen when I am cooking, hoping that just a little morsel will fall to the ground.  This is his form of asking.  Any crumb that falls, He claims.  We never outright give him anything, so it is all hope on his part.  He just looks patiently and watches.  I know he is asking for a bite.  He has high hopes that he will get just a bit.

This is a great example of how we should ask.  The only difference is that we should be verbal about it, not silent like my dog is.  But we should ask all the time if necessary until we get an answer.  Just because the answer does not come the first time we ask does not mean God will not answer.  My dog knows that well.  He always comes to my feet when I am cooking.  He is always expecting to get something.  He is relentless.  Our prayers should be the same.

For more on our communication with God, pick up my book “The ASK Principle”.  Just click on the Buy Now button on this page.  Your prayer life will never be the same!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *