What About Prayer?

I had a friend ask me a question about prayer that got me to thinking about it.  "If God knows everything and has a plan already for your life, what's the point of praying?"  Someone said that you shouldn't ask Him for things to work out the way you hope.  

Not that I have done extensive research, but I have gone to the experts/ mystics that I know of and look to for direction.  Julian of Norwich,  Merton, Richard Rohr, Bishop Robert Barron.  From some a what they say on prayer, here is my assessment.  

Prayer is about a relationship with God, about union with God.  He does know all but wants us to come to Him in love with all of our nakedness and vulnerability.  We should approach Him with trust knowing that it is all in His hands, but He wants us to share our feelings, our fears, our desires, etc.  But we also need to listen and hear Him when He says all will be well because He is in control.  

Why would we have petitions in church if we weren’t suppose to petition Him for our needs?  Why would we pray to the Blessed Mother if we weren’t suppose to ask for her intercession in our needs?  Why do we pray to the saints, if not to get help in getting our prayers answered?  Why would we go to one another for intercessory prayer?  

I am in conversation with Him all day.  Granted I don’t spend enough time in contemplative prayer, but I’m working towards that.  Also, why would we go to Him in adoration were it not to lay it all out at His feet?  We must first come to Him with trust, thanksgiving, and worship.  But we are His children.  If prayer to Him about our concerns is what we need, would He deny us?  The bible says no, He would not deny us.  

Prayer is a very personal thing that is at the core of your relationship with God.  I believe that we all need to find our own way to communicate with The Lord and to listen for direction from Him as to if we are getting it right.  If you truly go to Him in sincerity of heart, that’s all He wants.  To love you and to be loved.  He sent Jesus to die for us so that He could be in relationship with us.

Is there so much more to say about prayer?  Absolutely.  Is there so much more for me to learn about prayer?  Definitely!  I look forward to that part of my journey and to continuing my conversation with my Father, my Poppa.  He places me on His knee for our chats.  He wraps His arms around me to comfort me and give me courage.  He listens, He speaks.  I hear, I trust, I follow.  I love Him and He loves me back more than I can fathom. It's all about His love and accepting it and sharing it with others.  It's all about relationship!

Pray on people!  Your Poppa will listen!