The Heart of Prayer

Prayer is first and foremost relationship. It is the life of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit woven into the community of God’s people. At its heart, prayer is not about performance, nor even primarily about words. Prayer is being present with the Lord Jesus and, in his presence, turning to the Father, asking for his agenda, and receiving the authority that comes only from being with him.

In prayer we discover that it is more listening than speaking. Like sheep who know the Shepherd’s voice, we catch his heart and, in the power of the Spirit, we can pray back to him his own will in the name of Jesus. This is where prayer moves from duty into intimacy, from routine into life-giving presence.

Prayer is not an accessory to discipleship but the very heartbeat of it. It is the blood in the body, circulating life to every member. It is the sap in the vine, flowing from Jesus into the branches. It is the wind in the sails that carries the boat into the current of his purpose and fills it with his glory. Prayer is not simply one practice among others. It is the life source of walking with Jesus, the way we live in his presence, move with his Spirit and obey his word.

Withness rises in abiding prayer, adoring prayer, anguish in prayer and alignment with his will through prayer. In this way the Father advances his agenda in the power of the Holy Spirit as Jesus dwells with authority in his people. We are in awe of the Father’s love and cry, “Your kingdom come in the power of the Holy Spirit and the presence and authority of Jesus’ name.”