lenten 40: day 5 - prayer as communication

image 5.

reflection.
The right relationship with God that is necessary for healthy communication between God and man is evidenced in three ways. The first is a turning from sin, or repentance. Psalm 27:9, for example, is the plea of David for God to hear him and not turn away from him in anger. From this, we know that God does turn His face away from man's sin and that sin hinders the communication between God and man. Another example of this is found in Isaiah 59:2, where Isaiah tells the people, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” So, when there is un-confessed sin in our lives, it will hinder communication with God.

Also necessary for communication is a humble heart. God speaks these words in Isaiah 66:2, “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” The third thing is a righteous life. This is the positive side of turning from sin and is marked specifically by effectiveness in prayer. James 5:16 says, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Our speech to God may be vocal, in our minds, or written. We can be confident that He will hear us and that the Holy Spirit will help us to pray what we ought to pray. Romans 8:26 says, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”
from How is Prayer Communicating with God?

scripture.
²³After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
~Matthew 14:23

¹²One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
~Luke 6:12

⁹About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.
~Acts 10:9

final thought.
hectic lifestyles. busy schedules. over active calendars. there not enough time in a day to do what we do, is there? i can't think that this is God's plan for our lives.
prayer is our way to build our relationship with God. it is our method of communication. if you were rekindling a friendship with an old friend, it would make sense to spend time developing that relationship. How can we grow with God if we don't spend time developing that relationship?

Part of one's desire during lent should be to deepen one's prayer life - so as to connect at a deeper level with the love and sacrifice of Jesus. this is a key component to the preparation and commemoration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

take time to get away - so that you can radio heaven. spend time developing a relationship that is the key to life.