The Big Questions About Salvation and FaithSample

How Do You Pray?

Some years ago, my father died in very sad circumstances. I was a mess in the days that followed, and I needed time to be by myself. So, I went and sat beside the sea. I spent a whole day thinking and praying there. What I most prayed for was joy. A playful dolphin pod leaped in the air about 30-40 meters away from where I was sitting, and for me, that was God telling me I would be okay.

My understanding of how to pray was muddled for many years. I grew up with the idea that you have to pray in an especially reverent or “holy” way that God approves of. You had to kneel and include special religious phrases and words that would be right for speaking to God. Now, I know better.

Think about how you talk to your friends and your loved ones. It’s something you do automatically and need to do because you have a relationship with these people. It’s much the same with God. At its most basic, prayer is a conversation with God. You can pray at any time, place, and in all circumstances.

Another good way to think about your communication with God is to have an “attitude of prayer” in which God is your constant companion throughout your day, whatever you are doing. Even when concentrating on other things, you can still be aware of his presence. So this way, your time with God shouldn’t have boundaries.

There are many examples of how Jesus was always conscious of God’s presence. Often, he would stop for a moment and speak to his heavenly Father. For example, while speaking to the crowds, he would suddenly stop, look up, and say, “Father, glorify the Son.” We can do the same. I try to speak to God while I am walking, working, or even with other people. It is no less praying than kneeling in the most beautiful cathedral.

Our lives can be so demanding that sometimes we forget to stop even to sense our need to spend time with God, but when you realize God is as essential as food, drink, and sleep, you will want to spend time with him.

The Bible says God will give us what we ask for in his name. It doesn’t mean God will give you everything you want. As we meditate on God and come closer to him, we will naturally become more responsive to his will for us and the way he leads us. Spending quiet time with God will refresh your soul for the demands of life, but most importantly, it will keep you in tune with the real source of your life and purpose.

I often go for a walk or sit overlooking the ocean, and these are some of my favorite prayer times. You may choose a beautiful place where you can feel peaceful. You might choose to have beautiful music playing, or you might prefer to have complete silence as you focus on God and your two-way communication with him. Whatever your preference, make your prayer time special.

For me, prayer is never a monologue; it’s real communication.

– Eliezer Gonzalez