To grow in any relationship, there must be dialogue and periods of times in which both parties spend time talking with one another. This is so obvious, and yet so essential. In marriage relationships the reason why some couples “grow apart” is because they do not talk with one another, and they each have their own separate lives, yet they are apart. On the job employers and employees must spend times in meetings and memos, so everyone is on the same page and know what their responsibilities are. And the same holds true when it comes to the Christian life. We must talk with God, and listen to him as he speaks through his word.

In preparing for a class study on Thursday evenings, I was again impressed with the fact that those who cherished their relationship with God spend time with God. In Ezra 9:6-15 Ezra confesses the sin of the people in intermarrying among other nations, and in his confession admits that God is right in punishing them, and asking for his forgiveness. They confess their reliance on God, and in so doing commit themselves to repent of this sin. They were serious about having the relationship with God that God desired.

In Nehemiah 1 we read of yet another prayer by a man who wanted to get involved and help his people, who were in danger because they did not live in a protecting wall around Jerusalem. For three months before Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem, he prays and asks for God’s help in asking the king for necessary supplies, and to be allowed to go and serve God in this way. We read the rest of the story in Nehemiah, and see that the walls of the city of Jerusalem were rebuilt in 52 days. Prayer was essential for this to be successful.

Between the time Jesus ascended to heaven and the Holy Spirit was given on the day of Pentecost, the disciples spent 10 days in prayer. As a result of their preaching, but mostly because of their praying, 3000 obeyed the gospel on the day of Pentecost.

As I studied and thought of these things, I reflected on the fact that my prayer life is no where near what it needs to be. I reflected on the fact that I, like so many, are more interested in acting, rather than praying. Because of this — because we do not pray as we should — we are not as successful in our endeavors for the Lord and his kingdom. We work like everything relies on our plans, our actions and our ideas, and inadvertently leave God out of the picture. We forget that he is God; we forget that he is more concerned about the church’s success than we ever thought about being; and we forget that he is creator, and has the power to get things done that we never dreamed possible.

To grow in Christ and become what God knows we are capable of becoming, we must pray! I know that I am going to get a little personal, but how is your prayer life? How often do you talk with God, and how long do you talk with him? Is prayer easy for you, because of the relationship you have with him? Or is your prayer life like calling 911 — only when you are in trouble? TO GROW IN CHRIST, WE MUST GROW IN PRAYER!