Early in the morning I received a message from a woman who has been on a personal journey to discovering her faith for several years. Every time the going gets tough, and she lacks any understanding towards the chaos of her life, she feels even more confused in regards to the character of a God who cares. So, the tough gets going… seeking a different starting point.

It’s always one step forward and two steps back. One starting point gets muddled into another until she is no longer able to recognize why she began the journey in the first place. This has been her admitted struggle that she is transparent to share.

The message was sent in regards to her child. This child who is of a tender and impressionable age to the candy store of choices that the world provides, asked how they should pray. Something has begun to burn within the spirit of this child, and their desire is know how to talk to the God of the heavens and the earth.

What do I say? Where do I tell him to begin? I don’t want to get this wrong, so please help me?

It was an honest peppering of questions in fine human form for Jesus Himself was asked the same questions by the very ones who He discipled in His ministry on earth.

The scriptures tell us in the book of Luke that Jesus was praying to His Father and, when He was finished, one of His disciples approached asking Him to teach them to pray like John the Baptist taught before Him. This is where we are introduced to The Lord’s Prayer.

Like many, I grew up reciting The Lord’s Prayer knowing if off by heart spouting it like the national anthem. But though I knew the words, I simply didn’t understand the meaning behind the words themselves. The Lord’s Prayer isn’t a prayer itself but a formula of sorts on how to pray. And in simple words, with a gentle heart, God in His wisdom left nothing untouched but gave us a laminated chart within our heart on how to approach Him without fear.

So when you pray, you should pray like this:
‘Our Father in heaven,
may your name always be kept holy.
May your kingdom come
and what you want be done,
here on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us the food we need for each day.
Forgive us for our sins,
just as we have forgiven those who sinned against us.
And do not cause us to be tempted,
but save us from the Evil One.’ [The kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours forever. Amen.]
Matthew 6:9-13

Jesus desires us to converse with Him for He stands in-between and His presence fills the gap that separates us from God. In our human nature, things are often brought to clarity when lift what corners or concerns us up with our voice. We talk to others, we talk to ourselves. Let us talk to the One who holds all the answers and knows the way. For the power of a conversation can move mountains breaking new paths into the dirt of the earth. And the power of a conversation with the One who created the mountains will start us at the right point on the path itself.

Father, when you talk, help me to listen. When I talk, guide the words that flow from my heart to my mouth. I am desperate to hear you. I am desperate to know you. Reveal yourself to me through the power of a conversation. In Jesus name, amen.