Prayer – a Matter of Relationship
Prayer, in the basic sense, is communication with the Lord. It is a two way dialog and part of our ongoing relationship with Jesus.
When Jesus taught His disciples to pray (Luke 11:1-4), He focused on relationship with our Heavenly Father and connecting with Him in a vital way on a daily basis. His teaching begins with the focus on “our Father”, on our “heavenly” Father. We know that Jesus did not do anything on His own initiative, or His own will, but He only did that which He saw His Father doing
John 5:19-20
Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
(See also John 5:30, John 6:38)
Prayer is not a duty, it is not a religious work – no, it is our vital and ongoing interaction and relationship with our Heavenly Father.
When Jesus was on the earth He was always teaching and demonstrating His dependence on and relationship with His Father. Before He left in His ascension, after His resurrection, He told all that He would not leave them alone, but He would send His Holy Spirit (see John 14 & 16).
He has sent the Spirit of His son into our hearts, and we have been adopted.
Rom 8:15-16
…you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
We have the opportunity and the privilege to pray and be in relationship with our heavenly Father. Each and every day we are able to relate with Him, because He is in us and we are in Him. Yes, it is that easy.
God has given us the freedom to relate and commune with Him – what a wonderful opportunity we have each and every day to grow in our relationship and look to Him for what He is doing, even as Jesus did when He walked on the earth.
