In many ways prayer is like a cell phone. You can pray anytime you want, anywhere you want, for as long as you want. But unlike a cell, prayer has no fees or roaming charges. Plus you have a direct line to the God of the universe 24/7-24 hours a day, 7 days a week! How’s that for technology? Divine technology, that is! If you’re not praying-or not praying very much-or unsure about how to pray, run through this checklist:
- Check your relationship with God. Is there something that’s caused a barrier between you and God? If so, bow your heart and admit it to God. Ask Him to help you do whatever it takes to deal with the obstacles that stand between you and a loving, open relationship with Him—one that enables you to talk to Him about anything and everything.
- Check your lifestyle. What… or who… is influencing you? Are you being influenced positively for the things of God? If not, it’s out! Nothing and no one is important enough to endanger your relationship with God and your willingness to talk to Him in prayer.
- Check your desire. Prayer will never become a prized habit or spiritual discipline if the main ingredient-desire-is missing. You can know what to do and why to do it, but if you don’t want to do it, it won’t become real in your life.
To grow a heart that prays, start with a choice to pray a few minutes each morning. Graduate little by little to spending more of your 24/7 talking to God. Don’t loose heart. Big things begin small.
Source title: A Young Woman’s Guide to Making Right Choices, by Elizabeth George
Read Teen Tuesday: You Can Always Talk to God! on Elizabeth & Jim George.