07/18/2021 -
If we want our relationship with the Lord to become more than just a casual one in which we make an appointment with him once each morning, or evening, then we must pray without ceasing. If we want to feel His presence at all times then we need to be in constant conversation with Him. If we want to call Him Father, then we should recognize Jesus as our Savior, and Brother, but we should also engage them both in unending, and sometimes casual, chatter as every good family does. How openly, and lovingly, do we approach our Heavenly Father?
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
Psalm 145:18 ESV
When I was a young man, and Ann and I had a house full of children, our home was abuzz with conversation and life. When I would come home from work they would run to hug me, and tell me about their day. Whenever they woke up in the morning they would find me wherever I was, climb into my lap and we would talk about how well they slept, or perhaps a dream they had during the night. The point I am making here is that anytime we were together there was constant conversation and interaction. Our relationship with God should be like the one we have with our children… open, truthful, and founded on loving and constant conversation.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13 ESV
I spoke to you of my children running to me when I would come home, but on occasion they wouldn’t. When their voices were silent, my house was quiet when I arrived, there was no one calling my name, or the patter of running feet weren’t coming to greet me, then I knew something was wrong… someone was in trouble, or they were embarrassed about something they had done.
When we grow silent with God He knows that something is amiss too. I think of times when I have been lost in a sin, and felt unworthy… I was more than reluctant to enter my prayer closet. Have you ever experienced this? Have your prayer times been challenging for you when this occurs? Well you are not alone, and the Bible records the first occurrence of this when Adam and Eve Hid themselves.
“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.””
Genesis 3:8-10 ESV
Without some form of conversation there is no actual relationship, and this is true in our interaction with God as well. Silence indicates a problem… when we don’t pray it is because we don’t believe, we are afraid, or we feel unworthy. When we do not pray we grow distant from one another.
“Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.””
John 8:47 ESV
Broken relationships are silent, but this is not to be confused with silent prayer, or the silence of God, which are both like a deep hug that is held tight, warm, and without movement, or even a word being spoken… yet such hugs speak volumes in the midst of their silence. I was at a class reunion and saw a close friend and classmate that I hadn’t seen for quite a few years. In that moment I was overcome with emotion and with tears in my eyes I held him tight to me in a warm embrace… not a word was spoken, but in that silence our entire relationship was relived, and rekindled. Then we talked for the remaining days as our relationship had been restored. We have moments like this in faith too…
““Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah”
Psalm 46:10-11 ESV
So how is our prayer life today? Have we grown silent due to disobedience, fear, or because of embarrassment? Are we silent because our faith is less than it should be? Well if any of these things are true then it is time for us to establish, or rekindle, our conversations with God through unceasing prayer. Perhaps it is even time for silent prayer, or a warm embrace that speaks more than words as we allow our heart to pour itself out in the midst of holy silence.
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for our invitation to be in constant conversation with you through prayer. Thank you Lord for our prayers as we offer them in so many forms, spoken, unspoken, sung, chanted, moaned, hummed, hugged, cried, and in other ways too many to count. We long to be in your presence always Holy Father, even in those times when we hide ourselves from you in shame. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who loves us and desires to hear our prayers always. Help us in our unbelief Lord, and give voice to our faith. Merciful are you who instructs us in prayer through Jesus, and allows the Holy Spirit to pray for us when our prayers are at a loss for words. Your grace abounds, and lifts us from the silence of a faltering relationship… renewing it through contrition, and offered prayers for forgiveness. Wash us clean of sin, and return us to you in the blood of Jesus. Hear our prayers of joy and thanksgiving in that moment when you find us worthy… and in right relationship with you. In this way, give us an eternity of holy conversation with you, Jesus, and your Holy Spirit.
Rich Forbes