Before they call I will answer;
while they are still speaking I will hear.
Isaiah 65:24
Being a Christian means following Christ—acknowledging Him and striving to be like Him, walking in His footsteps. We’ve been given the Bible and the Holy Spirit as guides on this long and unpredictable journey. Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6), and what better way to approach Him than through communication?
We all know that our spiritual journey reflects our personal relationship with Christ. But how do we successfully maintain this relationship? Worship, Scripture, and Prayer are the primary ways we communicate with God and hear from Him. Unfortunately, out of these three, prayer is often the hardest to maintain.
It’s easy to sing catchy, danceable songs or weep during worship as we remember His goodness. It’s also easy to read a verse a day and feel satisfied, crossing it off our checklist. And it’s simple to wake up, quickly ramble through a 5-minute prayer just to fulfill our daily “duty.” But is this really the depth of our love for God?
We’ve reduced worship to just thanking God, Scripture to acquiring knowledge, and prayer to merely asking God for things. But they go much deeper than that.
Prayer is a direct line to God. It’s like texting your best friend—real, raw, and unfiltered. When we pray, we’re building a relationship with the Creator of the universe. Imagine trying to build a friendship without ever talking to the person—only remembering them when you need something. Prayer is a love language, with many forms like tongues, intercession, deliverance, meditation, confession, thanksgiving, fasting, lamentation, and more. Each form has its unique beauty when used properly. We even received a “recipe” to prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), and every attempt to speak with our Maker doesn’t go unnoticed.
Prayer changes us. As we pray, we begin to speak more like Christ, become more attuned to His thoughts and will, and grow sensitive to both the physical and spiritual. It changes our perspective on life, strengthens our faith, and reminds us of the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
In a world full of turbulence, prayer brings peace. It offers us the chance to hit the “pause” button on the chaos, refocus, breathe, and let God’s peace wash over us. Philippians 4:6-7 beautifully captures this: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
In our prayers, we can vent, cry, speak, ramble, ask, confess, or even beg. God is a true friend who is always ready to listen. He won’t run off with our secrets, He won’t shame us, and He won’t turn away from us when He hears the darkness within us. There is no purer form of love than this.
He listens. He speaks. He comforts (Psalm 91:15).
But most importantly, God is not a vending machine. Sometimes His answer is “yes,” sometimes “no,” sometimes “wait,” and sometimes He gives us revelations or prophecies. Even when the answer isn’t what we expected, it’s always exactly what we need. Trusting God’s timing can be difficult, but prayer is what keeps us anchored, reminding us that we are never alone.
Prayer should be irreplaceable in our lives.
- Set a time: Make prayer a non-negotiable part of your daily routine—like brushing your teeth, but for your soul. There will never be enough time to do everything we want in a day, which is why we must set boundaries and prioritize. Reduce screen time and dedicate moments to God. Even during the quiet moments of your day, like when you’re daydreaming, take a moment to shift your attention toward Him.
- Don’t force it: Pray while you’re driving, working out, or walking to class. Even if you don’t have specific requests, just speak to Him. Share your plans for the day, thank Him for His blessings, bask in His presence, and enjoy the connection.
- Be creative: Try prayer journaling or create a “prayer playlist” of worship songs to help you focus. Challenge yourself to make prayer more dynamic. Our prayer lives should never be monotonous; they should be something we look forward to each day.
I know it’s easier said than done but at the end of the day, prayer is about showing up. Our intention is what matters the most. God isn’t grading our prayers—He just wants to hear from us and spend time with us. Whether it’s a quick “Good morning, God” or a long heart-to-heart, remember: your words matter. They reach heaven and touch God’s heart. And in return, He will answer.
Stay blessed x
