In working on this issue of Activated, I came across this great quote: “Relationship with God isn’t about what you do, how you do it, or where you do it—it’s about knowing who God really is.”
Even Jesus’ disciples struggled with really knowing God. One day when they were observing Jesus while He prayed, they noticed how He spoke to God intimately. They wanted to have that same connection, so they asked Jesus to tell them His secret.
Jesus replied by teaching them the Lord’s Prayer and followed up on that with some further insight: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” 1
Of course, this doesn’t mean you can ask for anything you want and it will be granted to you. The Bible explains how prayer is answered: “We are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.” 2 God listens to all our concerns and requests, but we don’t always know what’s best or see the full picture. But He does, and He answers in the ways that will further His plans for His children.
Jesus’ message for all of us is that God earnestly desires to communicate with us and spend time with us. Prayer is our connection to God and His connection with us, and it’s important to keep those lines of communication open. If you want God to be your friend in times of trouble, be His friend the rest of the time as well by just having good old-fashioned conversations with Him. That’s the topic of this issue of Activated.
“I, the Lord, invite you to come and talk it over.” 3