COMMUNICATION

Picture this, a pastor is leading his congregation, asking them to cry out to God for His help in certain matters that, through discernment, he knows to be the main areas his congregation needs help in. In response, some cry out loudly, some respond quietly but are still as desperate, and others, though also equally as desperate, are completely silent. I used to think the first example was the only way to truly pray and those who did anything other than that, were either proud or too lazy to ‘pray’. Thankfully I have come to find out that just as I am (hopefully) communicating to you with this write-up and as easy as it is for you to read it, so is communication with God. You don’t have to be the loudest and you don’t have to be in a certain environment. While communicating with Him, you have to be aware and intentional about your conversation with Him and not just an unconscious recitation of words. Focusing on the person with whom you are communicating is an essential part of any effective means of communication. Prayer can even be in the form of a written letter.

Simply put, Prayer is Communicating with God, it could be with screams, it could be complete silence and even more marvelling it could be without audible words, groaning. We have been told that it is impossible to please God with just our works but rather with our hearts because that’s where the true version of ourselves is revealed. And because he knows our heart, he understands when we are too weak for words and when we are going through something that even we can't explain, and so the Holy Spirit somewhat interprets our wordless groans to the Father.

“ Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

Romans 8:26-28[MSG].

But, we have to ask for help from Him. Wordless groaning is different from complete silence, it is important to note that asking for his help is essential. The Holy Spirit is gentle and will not go where He is not called.

Communication is a two-way system of giving and receiving information, you cannot say you are really communicating with a person without giving information and receiving feedback from said person. It may not be by the same means the information is transferred, but as long as both parties understand the other’s feedback, communication has taken place. So also in the place of prayer, simply speaking to God is not enough, you also have to wait to hear His response. His response to your prayer could come in different forms, dreams, His word, another person, answered prayers, it is down to His discretion. Prayer can be whatever you want to talk to God about, to thank/ hype Him up for something mindblowing He did, talk about your struggles, your victories, His word, it can be to build yourself spiritually. Communication with God is key just like any other relationship, it is essential to build it. God is not a “spiritual ATM”, we cannot just go to Him only when we are in need, to collect and leave, we need to remember that Prayer is also about getting to know the person you are communicating with. It is essential to commune with Him.

In order to do this first and foremost you must surrender your lives to Him and ask that He helps you communicate effectively with Him and grow closer to Him. Do this and begin to build your relationship with Him today and enjoy the joy that comes with dwelling in His presence. God bless…