While my son-in-law was out of town, I spent time with my daughter and my grandson. Every night I had the privilege of listening to my grandson pray before he went to sleep. He would close his little eyes tightly and take on such a serious look. Then he would begin to simply thank God for his family.

As I watched him, I began to think about all of the books that are written on prayer. Although I truly believe that many of these books are exceptional and that a consistent prayer life is vital for all Christians, I do not think that prayer has to be done in a specific way. As my grandson did with such simplicity, prayer should be a time to commune with God ... to give Him thanks for all He has done for us.

I believe that the most effective prayers come from the HEART. Praying should be having a conversation with God. He is not looking for fancy words or a bombardment of memorized scripture. As today's scripture states, He is near to us as we call out to Him. Know that His desire is to hear what is in our hearts and on our minds ... our dreams... our fears ... our joys ... our concerns. He wants to know all there is to know about us.

I want you to imagine one of your loved ones coming to you with a long array of embellished words and long-winded thoughts. After a while, you would probably want to say - "What are you trying to tell me? Please just spit it out!"

Did you know that our lives can actually be prayers to God? One definition of prayer is the way we communicate with Him. The way we conduct ourselves on a daily basis, the way we go to Him in good times as well as bad, the way we share with Him from the heart what is going on with us, the way we treat others..... These are all expressions of communicating with God.

My challenge to you today is to just go to God with your own HEARTFELT words. He loves you and desires to communicate with the REAL you - not someone who is trying to impress Him!

Dear Lord, I am so grateful that You are always near to me when I call upon You. Thank You for wanting to know everything that is going on in my life. Help me to always be real with You in our time together.

 I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.