Introduction
Jesus’ sacrifice made it possible to enter into a very personal relationship with God. When he died on the cross the curtain that hid the Holy of Holies, the part of the Jewish temple that represented God’s presence was torn in two symbolizing free access to God. The Holy Spirit was then given as a gift to his disciples creating a deep relational link. It is one thing to talk about a relationship with God through Jesus. It is an altogether different thing to experience it. Prayer is as essential in our relationship with God as conversation and sharing is in any other relationship.
Prayer has several dimensions that are experienced to different degrees at different times. Prayer is relational at its base. It includes sharing our lives with God and listening to God in return. It is a time to question and a time to be thankful. It is time to submit our lives to Christ’s Lordship and worship his goodness. It is a time to recognize his work in our lives and to be thankful. Prayer can be cleansing, empowering, and a prophetic experience.
There is no one technique to prayer. There are no involved lessons to learn before we speak to God. The most important thing about prayer is that we do it. God is waiting. He knows our hearts and our limitations. In spite of all that, he has decided to love us. He waits for us to open up to him, to give him time to bring his wisdom, healing, and guidance to bear on our lives.
While there is no one “right way” to pray, there are several helps offered here to expand and deepen your prayer experience.