260 Talking with God: Ingredients for Intimacy

When we look at the life of Jesus, we see that prayer wasn’t a responsibility to be pushed into for Him; it was a relationship to be pulled into. It was in prayer where He found rest, strength, and direction, and where He experienced the Father’s love most deeply.

In Matthew 6:5-8, Jesus offers some straightforward advice on how to pray like He did. 

1.     Pray systematically – carve out time.

Deep, satisfying relationships are a function of time spent together. The same is true with God.

However, time seems to be the one thing we run out of fastest! God offers to give wisdom and perspective, guidance and direction, encouragement and confidence through prayer.  But I’m too busy to take Him up on His offer.  

It’s been said, “If Satan can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.” Why? Because if you’re too busy to connect with God, eventually, you’ll make yourself bad. 

Take a look at the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10. Jesus and his men stop by, and Martha heads to the kitchen to start preparing a meal. Meanwhile, her sister Mary is sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning from Him. Martha gets ticked off—not only at Mary, but at Jesus! She’s so busy doing “good” stuff, that she fails to do the “better” thing. And it made her worried and upset over things that didn’t really matter.

For Jesus, being busy was not an excuse to not pray. Instead, it was precisely because He WAS so busy that He intentionally got away and alone to spend time with His Father. 

And so should we. You will never know Jesus’ power until you follow Jesus’ pattern.

2.     Pray secretly – get away and get alone.

In Matthew 6:8, Jesus talks about going to your closet to pray. Find a quiet place where you can meet with God. 

It's alone, in the silence, when we can share with the Lord what He means to us.  It’s alone, in the silence, when we can pour our hearts out to Him.  It’s alone, in the silence, when all other voices are shut out, that we can hear the whisper of His still, small voice. It’s alone, in the silence, when we can just be with our Father.

Can you imagine doing life that way?  Here’s the thing: You will not drift into this way of life.  You must choose it.

Text: Mt. 6:5-8; Lk. 10:38-42; Mk. 1:35-36

Originally recorded on August 29, 2004, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN