Diann and I just returned from an evening walk. We enjoy walking and talking together. Tonight we talked about the phone conversations we had earlier today with both our daughter Julie and our son Dan. They live at a distance but we still stay close with the phone and e-mail.

The sun set while we were walking. I think of the sun moving imperceptibly across the sky all day but at the horizons it gives the illusion of rising and setting more quickly. This sunset with its scattered clouds was a constantly changing kaleidoscope of colors and shapes. The sounds of the songbirds have given way to the crickets and frogs, but I think there’s still time to write to you before I go to bed.

My conversations with Diann and the kids today remind me just how important it is to have regular conversation with God. We feel close to people when we keep in touch with them, and our relationship with God is no different. I encourage you to have many short conversations with God throughout the day and to schedule at least one extended time of communicating with Him each day.

This conversation with God should involve more than asking God for things and for His help, though this is a part of prayer. Think of two kinds of telephone conversations you can have: one with a pizza delivery company and the other with a close friend or family member. The phone call to the pizza place is for the purpose of ordering a pizza. You want a pizza, so you call them. The phone call to someone close to you covers many different topics. You may share your plans, your problems, your thoughts and feelings with the person. You may call simply to stay in touch. Communication with God should be less like the call for a pizza and more like the call to a loved one. The highest purpose of prayer is to deepen our relationship with God.

Just as conversation with a person usually contains different elements, so should our prayer time with God. Let me suggest an easy way to remember four key parts to balanced communication with God. The four parts begin with letters that spell PRAY.

Praise: One of the best ways I’ve found to feel close to God is to think of something I can praise Him for. I might praise Him for some characteristic of His that I particularly appreciate at the moment: maybe His patience with me or the fact that He knows everything about everything. Sometimes I praise Him for His kindness in answering a recent prayer of mine. Other times I praise Him for something beautiful in His creation. Everyone likes to receive praise and appreciation; so does God. And I always feel better myself after finding things to praise God for!

Repent: Honesty in being able to admit when we’ve been wrong is important in any relationship and especially in our relationship with God. I know that once I’ve accepted Christ as my savior my sins of the past, present, and even the future are covered by what He did for me on the cross. Still, it’s important that in my conversations with God I regularly admit to Him the ways I have failed Him. He’s holy and perfect, and unconfessed sin on my part is going to be a wall between us.

Ask: This is the part of prayer most of us have little trouble with: asking God for help. And it’s OK to do that! He wants us to ask for His help for ourselves and for those we know. God has so designed this world that His best isn’t unleashed unless we pray. Our praying is one significant way He allows us to participate in making the world a better place.

Yield: I try to remember that the purpose of prayer is not to change God’s mind; it’s to change me. It’s a time when I can make myself available to God, to offer to cooperate with Him in doing what He wants to do through me. I should come away from a time with God changed for the better.

I’ve found that keeping some measure of balance among these four parts of prayer have made my conversations with Him more enjoyable and effective. Why don’t you give it a try?

A fellow seeker after truth,
Dave