But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:6-7 NIV
I think the phrase "pray to your Father, who is unseen" is an important concept in understanding prayer. When I call a friend for advice, I get a live voice over the phone. When I ask my wife's opinion of a matter, most likely she is close enough to reach out and touch her hand. Even when I correspond with someone over the Internet (like you), I know someone is on the other end of the communication.
With prayer, I'm talking to God who is unseen. That brings a whole other level of trust into my prayers. I have to trust that He is listening. I must have faith that He will respond. I even have to trust that He really does care. Faith is a crucial part of an effective prayer life.
I have received numerous emails from people over the years that have said they just don't know it their prayers are going anywhere. I certainly understand the feeling. Although God is a very personal God, caring about us on the most intimate level, sometimes it seems like He is a million miles away. And, again, I must say that this is what faith is all about. Faith is believing in what we cannot see. It's trusting when it makes no sense. It's relying on God over our circumstances even though our circumstances may appear to be so much more real than even God seems at the time.
An effective prayer life continues to pray even when it doesn't seem that your prayers are being heard. We pray in faith, believing that God is who He says He is, that He will do what He says He will, and then we adjust our lives accordingly.
Oh, Lord, teach us to pray!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Mustard Seed Ministry is a non-profit ministry attempting to disciple people into a strong, loving relationship with Jesus Christ. If this sounds like a ministry you can support, send contributions of any size to Mustard Seed Ministry, PO Box 3698, Clarksville, TN 37043
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