By Brenda Jank
Prayer.
If I’m really honest, I have to admit I find it easier to spend ten minutes talking about God than ten minutes talking to God. My life bears evidence of this reality too often. My growth can be meager. My fruit is nothing worth writing home about.
Can you relate?
How do we turn the tide?
How do we infuse our lives, our passion, our purpose, our existence with prayer—so our lives find the rest and power we long for?
I think the first step is examining our understanding and practice of prayer.
For 40 years, a majority of my prayer life has been spent in monologue. I talk. God listens.
Nothing wrong with talking. God wants to hear from his children.
But it can’t consume.
Monologue does not set me on the fast track to a healthy relationship with anyone, including God.
Does a prayer monologue come easier than dialogue to you, too?
Getting a glimpse of Moses’ relationship with God spurs me on to explore this whole idea of dialogue. I think the whole idea of dialogue prayer captured Joshua’s heart as well.
Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. … The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aid Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. Exodus 33:7 and 11.
Face to face with God.
Start tomorrow morning.