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Getting Closer to God Through Prayer

Now before I start, let me say that this post literally could go on forever and ever so this definitely is not an all inclusive plan for building a stronger relationship between you and the Lord.  This is just a couple ways we can get to know Him better daily through prayer.

First, through constant conversation with Him.  You will not have a close relationship with God by going to church once, or even twice a week.  One book even says that a daily quiet time will not bring the closeness to Him that we often desire.  We are to share all of our life with Him.  Let me be clear though, a daily quiet time and of study and devotion is vital to the relationship, but you cannot give God a time slot on your schedule and then check it off as being done.  He should be included in every activity, every conversation, everything that comes up during your day. 

Alone time with God is important, and Jesus modeled that for us.  But you can pray continually throughout the day and be in constant conversation with God.  Brother Lawrence, who wrote Practicing the Presence of God in the 17th century, suggested praying shorter conversational prayers throughout the day in order to keep our minds from wandering.  He said, "I do not advise you to use a great multiplicity of words in prayer, since long discourses are often the occasions for wandering."  In this attention deficit, got to have it now society, what wise advise that was given over 300 years ago. 

In The Purpose-Driven Life, Rick Warren suggests using breath prayers, a brief sentence you can share in one breath to bring your focus and heart on God if even just for a minute:  "You are with me," "I receive your grace," "I'm depending on you," "I want to know you," "I belong to you," "Help me trust you," or consider using a short phrase from scripture. 

We stay in touch with our best friends constantly now either by phone, social media, text, e-mail, whatever.  God also has unlimited minutes, text, and data so we can reach out to Him any time and any place.  If you're like me and have trouble sometimes focusing on long prayers and get to thinking about other things, slow down.  Make a prayer list and pray items off one or two at a time every hour or so throughout the day.  The minutes and seconds spent talking to God add up and the continual prayer keeps our hearts and minds coming back to Him throughout the day instead of just in the morning or at night before bed. 

"Pray without ceasing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:17

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