New Breath in Christ: Prayer

Living things breathe.

When a baby is birthed, she takes hold on new life with that first breath of life. If she had not breathed, she would not have lived to give us so many sweet memories with her. Prayer is as necessary for our spiritual life as breathing is for our physical. And as natural. Take a deep breath in now, figuratively breathing in God’s life and provision. Find joy in Jesus, who He is and what He has done for you (and is doing). Exhale now, laying all your current life-struggles at His feet, as you would with any good friend. Prayer flows from relationship. At its simplest, prayer is simply spiritual breathing.

Prayer is also like a child talking with our Father. Our children’s first, stumbling attempts to talk brought Fran and me great delight. Our heavenly Father delights even more in you. Converse with your Father at set times during each day, and also on the run during routine tasks as well as exhilarating events, ask: “Jesus, I wonder...” As we delight in God, He places His own desires on our hearts (Psalm 37:4). So prayer is a trusting child asking a caring parent for what a parent willingly gives.

And yet prayer is more. I still remember when our children were young and playing outside. I would hear “Daddy, daddy, daddy” just before the screen door banged open and shut. They were usually hurt and needed comfort, or excited and needed to share. But occasionally they ran in, hopped up on my lap, threw their little arms around my neck, and squeezed...hard. Then off they went as quickly as they came, sometimes without a word. They just wanted to hug.

Relationship-based prayer with God can be like this. Sure you come to God when you confess wrongdoing or ask for what you need. God encourages this. And God also enjoys when you simply come to Him, hop up on His lap, wrap your pudgy little arms around His neck, and tell Him how much you love Him. That is adoration. Do you wonder how our heavenly Father feels about this? The memory of the squeeze of those warm little arms around my neck is still like yesterday.

Love fuels authentic prayer, flowing out of relationship and launching us into daily adventures with God. The heartbeat of our journey is this intimate presence of God, welcomed on a moment-by-moment basis. So scatter “One-Minute Sabbaths” through your day (see # 47), briefly lifting your heart to Him at any time. He cares deeply.

And pray “with one foot raised,” anticipating partnering with Him in His God-assignments, together, side-by-side during the day. Bring everything to the Father, Son and Spirit, the good, bad and ugly. He loves and enjoys you more than words can convey.

This is Reflection #10 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com