Prayer Part II

Persons who have decided to become followers of Jesus begin to think immediately of individuals they love, friends they value and relatives who have not yet made that decision or are not seriously following through on it. Sometimes they are the only person in an entire network or community who has made the commitment to be a follower of Christ. This large group comes to their mind right away. It is only natural (and spiritual) to have a deep yearning to share faith with the people that are important in their life. The first step is to begin to pray for these individuals.

God invites us to communicate with Him. God created humans like Himself intending to communicate with them. “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.’” (Gen. 1:26, NASB) The Contemporary English version reads, “God said, “Now we will make humans, and they will be like us. We will let them rule the fish, the birds, and all other living creatures.” In the Garden of Eden, God came in the evening to walk and talk with the people He had made. They looked forward to their time with God. However, when they believed the serpent’s lies and did what the Serpent wanted instead of what God had asked them to do, the relationship was broken. Adam and Eve became afraid and hid from God. Sin divided.

God came and found them. He helped them by making clothes for them. He escorted them out of the garden away from the tree that would make them live forever in sin. And most importantly, He promised salvation and a reunion. Humans could no longer speak face to face with God, but God provided a way they could still communicate with Him. Through prayer they—and we—could still talk and walk with God. His promise of Jesus would make a relationship still possible.

John called Jesus “the Word,” meaning the same creative power that spoke the world into existence. “In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God. From the beginning the Word was with God. And with this Word, God created all things.” (John 1:1-3, CEV) “The Word was in the world, but no one knew him, though God had made the world with his Word.” (John 1:10, CEV)

God’s Word, Jesus, has power—creative power. By speaking, God created the world. God’s words, God’s thoughts still have power. God still creates good in the world. Positively changed lives demonstrate God’s creative power. We can partner with God, joining in His creative work through communicating with Him in prayer.

Although Jesus went back to heaven physically, God wants to live with us. “…If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him. (John 14:23-24 NASB) God wants to be with us through prayer. Even though we can’t see God now, prayer brings God into our lives.