I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people. 1 Timothy 2:1 NIV
Reflect upon someone you have known for a long time. Now think about how your conversations have changed over that time. As your relationship has grown, you realize so has the depth of discussions. You don’t talk about the same old things but new and varied items. Can you imagine having a friend for 30 years, and all you ever talk about is the weather? That's not how it works, though; the more comfortable we become, the more we open up and share.
Our prayers to God should not be the same either. As our relationship grows, so does the depth of our dialog with God. If we only said the Lord’s Prayer, it would be the equivalent of only talking about the weather. But our conversations are varied; sometimes, we offer prayers of thanksgiving, acknowledgment of our gratitude for his grace and gifts. At other times, we come with a long list of intimate things–a petition–of those things weighing on our hearts. Sometimes, we may mention other people requiring God's help. However, there are times when we simply want to talk with God. We need to feel his presence.
Lord, we thank you for the intimacy found in our relationship with you. You desire to talk with us about anything–whatever is in our hearts at any time. You listen to our praise, petitions, and intercessions with a beloved friend's empathetic and compassionate ear. You not only listen intently to our prayers but talk with us, giving us advice and guidance. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
