“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Philippians 4:6

There are many days when I can’t wait to get home from work, or a trip so that I can tell my wife something. Texting has made that easier, but even then we want to spend time talking about it. Whether it be good news, or news that brings frustration she is the one I want to talk to about it and share the news with. Some of our favourite moments are when we can go on a road trip and just talk to each other.

John Calvin said that “prayer is the chief exercise of faith.” We are called to spend that time with God, and I wonder what it would look like if we wanted to share those things with God. We wanted to share the good things that happened, the bad things, or even the things that we don’t understand. Instead of looking at prayer as a necessity, we can look at it as an opportunity to process to God.

While there is definitely more use in talking to God than our spouses, I think there should be even more enjoyment in it. Perhaps we were brought up to think that prayers needed to be monotone, or rehearsed, but I think the biggest requirement is that we enjoy it. I don’t mean that we feel good every time, or even that it’s about us.

In the Westminster Catechism is says that “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” To enjoy speaking to Him, and spending time with Him. That’s exactly what prayer should be, enjoying the presence of God. It is important to have both of those conversations, it’s important to have those quick check in “texts” with God when something comes up that you want to share with Him, praise Him for, or cry out to Him. It’s also important to have those long car rides where you can talk about everything and nothing. To just spend time in each other’s presence, and enjoy that presence.

So for the rest of this summer, what would it look like to check in with God regularly. Instead of grumbling or whining to someone, we bring our frustration to Him. When we are excited about something and need to tell someone, we start with Him. There are so many opportunities to share with God, happy, sad, excited, scared. The more we do this the more we think about God, and the more we enjoy being with Him, that is how we grow closer to Him. Prayer isn’t an obligation, but an opportunity to enjoy God more fully.

Prayer: Lord you are magnificent. I am so thankful that we are able to pray to you for a quick conversation, or sit down and pour out our hearts to you. Thank you that you listen to us and love us. I pray that in hard times and good times we can turn to you and talk to you, and in that we can enjoy your presence more and more.

-Austin Christianson

Shepherding and Worship Pastor