authentic conversations
Here are some ramblings from my journey… Still exploring, still learning, still seeking deeper understanding, still growing…
Within the context of a loving relationship, conversation is the thing that keeps us connected, interacting, engaged, growing…
If prayer is conversation with God, does the way we pray contain all those elements that say we are truly connected and engaged; open and honest; responsible and committed; intentional and sincere? A well rounded sum of all that goes into a heart-to-heart, deep, meaningful conversation?
Prayer is Authentic Conversation
I was in the middle of a very difficult season. I had begged God for healing. I had asked him to change my circumstances. I had begged him to change others. And nothing happened the way I wanted it to. And just when I thought I couldn’t handle any more, one more crisis hit. It occurred to me that all my “prayers” had gone “unanswered.” In one angry moment, I said, “What’s the point in praying?!”
The question took me by surprise. I stopped, took a moment to look the way I had been praying. I had been asking for specific resources. Asking for specific changes. Asking for health. Asking for wisdom. Asking for guidance. Asking. At some point in that season of crises, driven by my needs, my prayers had become shopping lists.
Now, we know that prayer is not just about asking. It’s not magic that gets me what I want. And yet, that is how many of us pray. We “share prayer requests” – a list of asks. We remind one another to pray for specific needs. Our prayers quickly become long lists of “God, please do this!” and “God, please do that!”
When we consistently focus on one aspect of prayer (such as asking) and ignore the rest, prayer can quickly stop being a conversation that is rooted deeply in relationship.
If prayer is authentic conversation, do we include all these ingredients that make for healthy, vibrant, life-giving, intimacy-building conversation?
Speaking. Listening. Reflecting. Thinking. Pondering. Remembering. Understanding. Asking. Venting. Hoping. Waiting.
Pauses. Silence. Expression. Creativity. Affirmation. Acknowledgement. Validation.
Thoughtfulness, Love. Respect. Affection. Gratefulness.
Revelation. Conviction. Correction. Humility. Openess. Teachability. Patience. Questions. Doubt. Clarification.
Laughter. Tears. Humor. Authenticity. Heart. Mind. Soul. Vulnerability. Honesty. Sincerity.
Etc.
Conversations help build relationship:
Connection. Safety. Security. Trust. Knowledge. Confidence. Understanding. Authenticity. Direction.
Depth. Consistency. Trust. Faith. Hope.
Etc.
And relationships that are invested in will grow. Intimacy encapsulates everything we long for in relationship:
Sincerity. Wholesomeness. Strength. Love. Care. Trust. Faithfulness. Depth. Security. Purpose.
Etc.
Prayer that consistently ignores any of the ingredients that make up authentic conversation will dilute and erode relationship.
In an intimate relationship, there is plenty of room for asking, even for pleading. But if asking is what our prayers are mostly centered around, our Creator may mean no more than a vending machine to us. And when that vending machine does not give us what we want or think we need, we say, “What’s the point in ‘praying’?”
Prayer is authentic conversation that nurtures a dynamic relationship and deep intimacy with our Creator. It keeps us connected with Him and encourages us to grow, to change, to become more like Christ. And somehow, in being deeply connected, Who we are connected to becomes more important than anything we could ever get from Him. The Provider becomes our Provision.
May our prayers cease to be “vending-machine-events” and be life-building conversations! And may we learn to pray without ceasing, to pray all the time, to never stop praying, till this process of conversation with God becomes as natural as breathing to us.
You may also want to check out these posts on prayer:
http://www.ducodivina.com/on-hitting-the-mark/
http://www.ducodivina.com/on-asking-for-the-right-things/
http://www.ducodivina.com/on-praying-responsibly/
http://www.ducodivina.com/on-the-reality-of-living-in-a-corrupted-world/
http://www.ducodivina.com/on-how-then-should-we-pray/
~shini abraham, ©2017, duco divina – contemplative doodling
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