One of the most important and quickest things I’ve learned in marriage is that my wife can’t read my mind and I can’t read hers. The longer we’ve been married, the more we can however…ha-ha. But, we needed to learn to communicate early on. This is true in any relationship we have, personal, professional, etc. Often times we just needed to ask a question instead of assume the other knew.

The same is true with our walk with God. God wants us to communicate through prayer, to ask. We see it all over the Bible. We see an example in (Matthew 7:7-8) where Jesus phrases it this way, “Ask and it will be given unto you” and “For everyone who asks receives.”

Jesus encouraged this kind of prayer. I LOVE this story found in (Luke 18:1-8) about the persistent widow, who came to a judge seeking justice against her enemy. Day and night, the old woman came to the judge’s house, demanding he take action. And for the longest time, the judge denied her request. But the woman kept coming back, kept asking, until the judge finally gave in and granted her what she had been asking for. The point of the story, Jesus said to the disciples, was that God answers those who cry out to Him and ask. Asking God to move in our lives is the beginning of our relationship with Him.

There’s no incorrect way to pray. Whether we come to Him in thankfulness, frustration, joy, or confusion, our prayers aren’t just dissolving into thin air, nor are they simply disregarded for more important prayer. God hears our prayers, all of them. God is always ready to listen any day or any night. He doesn’t get distracted, irritated or impatient. He doesn’t roll His eyes and dismiss them. Our heavenly father never misses a word we think or say in prayer. Let’s remember this truth throughout this day and every day.

May we each ask in prayer, making our requests and feelings known. May we also receive in faith, with certainty and conviction, fully persuaded that God will answer it.

Photo by Emily Morter on Unsplash