We were putting food on the table, getting ready to enjoy dinner with some friends. As we all sit down, before serving the food, we ask if we can pray.  Our friends graciously give the go ahead, and we close our eyes. My husband proceeds to talk to God, praising Him for being a good and holy God, thanking Him for our friends and the time we have together, and thanking him for the food. 

It was a simple prayer.

The dinner progresses as usual with life-giving conversation and delicious food, but then somewhere along the way, one of our friends begins to talk about that prayer.

"So, when you pray, it isn't from a script? Because we normally just pray the recited prayers from the Catholic church."

It's a question that we've heard before and are always thrilled to answer. In fact, when we have the honor of hosting people in our home, one of the things that stands out most to them is how we pray to God. We pray as if we are simply having a conversation with God. We pray as if He can hear us. We pray as though we have a personal relationship with Him. We don't pray through the saints, but instead, because of Jesus, we pray directly to God. We do this because we can and because the Bible tells us to do just that. 

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6

In Timothy Keller’s book Prayer, he makes the profound point that, “Prayer is continuing  a conversation that God has started through his Word and through his grace, which eventually becomes a full encounter with him.” In the Bible, we learn about who God is, and in prayer, we have the opportunity to interact with Him. And when we pray, we pray knowing that God hears us. We pray as a child talks with their father. Prayer is not something to be diluted with recited words, practiced movements, and specific locations. Rather, it's something that can, and should, happen during even the smallest moments of our lives. 

"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Prayer is just one part of a personal relationship with God. While it is important, it is not complicated. It's just a conversation.

Written by Tiffany Hodge