John Unger

There is a difference between prayer, the noun, and to pray, the verb. We are definitely a people who believe in prayer, but are we a people who pray? Jesus prayed. There is no better endorsement than that. Jesus, God in the flesh, invested significant time away from everyone praying. Not just as an example. He got alone and prayed. He did it because it was valuable, life[1]restoring, ministry-focusing, Father-blessing, time—perhaps the closest thing there is to heaven on earth. We want that. We believe in that. And yet we sometimes find ourselves caught in the place between planning to pray, wanting to pray, intending to pray, and actually praying.

To be like Jesus is to have a conversational relationship with God. Too often we feel compelled to spend our praying desperate to get God to back our plans. We’ve heard powerfully spoken prayers, desperate prayers and tearful prayers not so far removed from the prophets of Baal who believed they could get a response from the right technique or enough desperation. If prayer is a conversation, about half the experience needs to be listening and in order to listen, some of our talking must involve emptying what is in us and re-centering in who He is so we are truly able to listen! In every moment, every situation, every conversation let us come asking, “God, what are you up to and how can I join in what you are already doing?”

John 5:19 NIV “Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”

REFLECTION:

· What portion of our ministry would go right on without disruption if God never showed up?

· When was the last time you stepped out in obedience knowing there was no way this could possibly work without Jesus?

· When you are lonely, exhausted, angry, or anxious, what are you turning to in hopes of restoration?

PRAYER: Father, I am here to be with you. Your presence is what I seek. Your voice is what I long for. Your will is my desire. What are you up to today and how can I get involved?