prayer 101

When you remember that nobody addressed God as Father in that time, Jesus' instruction to us to begin prayer by saying, "Our Father..." takes on a new light. We remember that there is a great connection to God that was opened at that moment to all of us. We are now able to come to God as those loves by a perfect Father, and loved perfectly as a Father loves His children. Our identity was changed at that moment when Jesus said, "you should pray like this..." We were now to know ourselves as children, and that identity was to drive our prayer. We do not pray as slaves or mindless drones who have drunk the religious kool-aid. We pray as children of a personal and loving Father. But this does imply an understanding at a core place within ourselves that begins our prayer. Prayer begins with a fundamental, core understanding that we are children under a Father-love. Our prayer begins in that personal relation, and without that relation, our prayers are words spoken blankly. Granted, that relation may be weak. It may be broken and distant, but it must be...it must be present. Without it, we do not relate; we do not pray--our prayers begin with that relational connection. Not only does it begin there; it is also the purpose behind the prayer. Prayer serves to help us know God more. To pray is to communicate, and communication leads to further knowing...further intimacy. As long as prayer begins properly (by a relational connection) it only serves to grow and develop that connection further. But it must continue forward. Jesus told his disciples (which most of us strive to be) to always pray...God answers those who keep on praying. Prayer begins with a relation, and that relation should go on and on. It should be endless and without ceasing.