DAILY DEVOTIONAL FROM PASTOR WESLEY June 24, 2022

Yours Truly

Praying isn’t a one-sided affair; rather, it is an intimate and precious conversation with Go

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8

Writing letters—either by hand or electronically—is a good way to communicate. We can share our innermost thoughts with others, give and receive encouragement, and laugh together. However, letters aren’t perfect. They’re sporadic, coming in intervals of every few days or longer, and the conversation tends to be one-sided. A telephone or video call eliminates those delays by allowing us to interact in real time. We can hear one another and even make eye contact.

Many of us feel that prayer is like “writing” requests to God and sending them off, hoping to eventually get a response. But our heavenly Father wants to speak with us in a more immediate, intimate way. He wants us to draw near. That means we must commune with Him daily, clearing space in our mind and heart. When we do, we’ll find that conversing with Him becomes easier over time. Then prayer will be as natural as speaking with a friend—the best one you’ll ever have (A man of too many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24).

Think about it

  • Do you feel close to God in prayer, or does it seem as if you’re speaking into a void? Plan when you can focus on prayer in the coming week, and make sure to spend as much time listening as speaking.

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