In a recent conversation about how we cultivate a life of prayer, two friends shared how adversity had shaped their own journeys. One spoke of the loss of her spouse, a grief that drew her into a deeper dependence on God. Another described ongoing health challenges that daily remind her of her need for God’s deliverance and presence.
Both shared that prayer is far more than speaking words to God. It is learning to simply enjoy His presence and to walk in conscious friendship with Him. Like a long-time friend, sometimes it is enough to simply sit together, knowing you are deeply known and deeply loved.
How will you go about cultivating a life of prayer? For some, it may mean setting aside marked times of prayer throughout the day. For others, adversity may become a reminder to draw near to God. Perhaps it will be a book on prayer that stirs fresh desire, or a Bible study exploring the many passages on prayer in Scripture.
Later, someone shared Psalm 63:1–8 with our group. It begins, “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you…” May God give each of us that kind of longing for Him and draw us into a walk of deep and joyful closeness with Him.