I am writing a short book on prayer and the great thing about writing it is that I am learning so much as I unpack what the word of God says about prayer. Today I have been looking at the question, “What is prayer?”

One of the ways to look at prayer is to see it as having a chat with God.

Some might think, “Can we really chat with God like a friend?” Yes, we can. Remember, Jesus told us to think of God as Our Father, even calling Him “Abba Father”. I have a friend who starts her prayers with “Daddy God”. And better still, our God in heaven is different and even better than our real-life dads.

Let’s break down how to chat with God:

Talking: This is just like starting any chat. If you don’t know what to say, the Lord’s Prayer is a good place to start.

Listening: In any good chat, we listen as well as speak. So, in prayer, we should listen to what God might be saying. It’s good to find a quiet spot for this.

Replying: When we listen, we often want to answer back. Sometimes we’re keen like Mary, the mother of Jesus. Other times, like Zechariah (John the Baptist’s dad), we might doubt. Most of us feel both ways at different times.

Keep it Going: Think of it like talking to a good friend all the time. Anywhere, anytime.

Make it Yours: Every chat is unique, like every prayer. Your talk with God will be special, just for you.

Prayer isn’t just chatting though. We can also praise God, say sorry for our mistakes, and ask for help, both for others and ourselves. We’ll dive deeper into these parts in later chapters.

To sum up, next time you pray, picture it as a chat. Speak, listen, and enjoy the conversation.