Real talk. Prayer is weird at first. We’re used to talking with people we can see, text, or FaceTime. So when someone says, “Talk to God”, our first thought might be, “how when I can’t even hear Him talk back?”. That’s totally fair and you’re not alone in thinking that. But here’s the good news- you can actually have a a real, growing, and life changing relationship with a God you can’t see. And prayer is how that connection grows stronger every day.  

What is prayer? Prayer isn’t fancy words or a spiritual performance. It’s simply connection with God. It’s how we invite Him into our everyday lives, our highs, our heartbreak, and everything in between. It can be talking to God: with praise, with gratitude, with questions and with raw honesty. And prayer can be listening for God: through reading the Bible, through quiet moments, and through nudges in your spirit. And the best part? There’s no wrong way to start.
At Be Hope Church, we believe prayer changes everything. We tend to become like the people we spend time with. The same is true with God. As we spend time in prayer, we start to think more like Jesus, love more, and live with the same purpose. Prayer can be about asking for something from God and it can also be about becoming more like God.

Maybe you’re thinking, “does God actually answer?” Yes! It’s just not always the way we expect. Sometimes God says yes. Sometimes He says no. Sometimes He says wait. Even Jesus heard a “no” from God in his darkest hour (Matthew 26:36-46). That didn’t mean God wasn’t listening. It meant there was a bigger story unfolding. God is a good Father, not a vending machine (Matthew 7:11).  He always hears. He always responds in love. And He always walks with you- even when the answer isn’t what you had hoped (1 John 5:14-15).

Scripture Focus:
“This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."
   -  Matthew 6:9-13

Pause + Pray:
God, you know me. You see me.
Help me to talk to you like I would a close friend. Give me courage to be honest and the patience to listen.
Grow my trust in You through every prayer.
In Jesus’s name, amen.

Next Step:
Pray! Here are a few simple ways to make prayer a part of your life:
• Keep it simple + honest. You can pray in one sentence. You can whisper or write it down. You can pray while driving, walking or folding laundry.
• Make it a habit. Pick a time each day to pray like morning, lunch or before bed. Set a reminder. Create a rhythm. Prayer is less about how and more about the heart.
• Don’t just talk. Listen. God may not speak audibly, but He speaks through the Bible, through other people, and through the Holy Spirit’s nudges in your heart, soul, and mind. Leave space in your prayer to reflect, breathe, and just be.