Permission to Speak Freely

What if prayer has nothing to do about getting God to do stuff for us?

What if we got prayer all wrong?

What if prayer wasn't meant to be hit or miss?

What if there is something so much more to prayer?

Prayer is not a good luck charm as most of us make it out to be. It is not God answering prayer randomly. If we take out asking God for things from our prayers, what is left? You can talk all your life to God and never feel connected.

In our current series, "Permission to Speak Freely" by Andy Stanley we are looking at how to pray. Now no one has every taught me to pray, nor had the disciples been taught when they asked Jesus to teach how to pray. I have listen to others praying in church, sometimes very impressive prayers that I could never match up to.

"When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!" Matthew 6:5-8

Here Jesus tells us to go somewhere quiet where we won't be distracted. He does not mention prayer on the run, if you know what I mean. Jesus is talking about a quiet place where you can meet with the Father. He knows all about your problems before you ask him. Imagine not just telling Him about your issues but discussing them with Him. He is looking for a personal and intimate relationship with you.