Relationship with God

On my survey several weeks ago, 74% responded that their reason for praying is relationship with God. Prayer is only one of many things that contributes to relationship between us and God. Relationships are not just one-sided; they require two or more parties interacting with one another. When it comes to having a relationship with God, this interaction takes the form of faith and grace. God extends grace, and we respond in faith. We take a step of faith, and God responds with grace. For example, God extends his grace by sending his only Son to die in our place. We respond to that grace through baptism—a demonstration of our faith. God continues this relationship in another act of grace by giving the gift of the Holy Spirit. This leads us to prayer.

In faith, we offer prayers to God, and God responds with grace (in the form of blessings, healing, comfort, protection, etc.). The Holy Spirit, which as I already stated is manifested in us as the result of this grace-faith interaction, is essential to the power of prayer. Paul writes in Romans 8:26-27, “…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” God likewise uses the Spirit to respond to us. 1 Corinthians 2:10-13 says “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual truths with spiritual words.” As this dialogue continues, we are transformed—we are able to better discern God’s will and we become more like him.

In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul lists the fruits of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” These are all manifestations of God’s grace in our lives. It may be hard to believe that these can be the result of prayer, but I have noticed in my life as I have been more intentional about my prayers in the last several weeks, that they really are. However, it is still our responsibility to respond in faith and put them into practice by living them out every day so that the world can see God and also be transformed by his Spirit.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2