by Victoria Heinecke

God hears every prayer because he desires relationship with us.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.  

“…pray without ceasing…” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 English Standard Version (ESV)

I enjoy air travel. When I was younger, however, the take-off portion of the flight terrified me. One night, my husband and I were flying home from San Francisco, and the plane had to go over the bay as it gained altitude. I waited for the sensation of the wheels leaving the tarmac, which seemed to take an eternity. As I was praying that we wouldn’t crash into the water my husband noticed my anxiety, along with my silently moving lips, and said, “Vicki, God heard you the first time.”

I relaxed, trusting that God was in control, and soon the wheels left the ground.

The verse, “pray without ceasing,” may remind us of the persistent widow, who pleaded relentlessly until the judge gave in. At the same time, God’s word teaches us to include him in our daily living, talking to him throughout the day the way we might text a close friend or loved one. He wants us to include him in all we think and do. The entire sentence surrounding today’s verse puts this in context:

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

The difference between texting with a friend and talking to God is that God already knows what we’re thinking. He knows what we’re going to say. He knows the story of our lives. Does this mean we only need to talk to him when we need something, as if he were a genie in a bottle? Saint Paul might reply, “By no means!”

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10a ESV

Talking to God throughout the day cultivates the two-way relationship so that he is not a stranger to us in times of need. He becomes the best of friends, a confidant, a mentor, and a forever companion. We become more sensitive to when he’s talking to us. It strengthens our faith in Jesus, whose death and resurrection restores our relationship with God.

Our relationship with God becomes a regular part of our lives. That is what God wants for us.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado