“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

Every week I meet with a small group of friends from my church. We study a passage or chapter of the Bible, play games, cook food, or just hang out. But we always pray together, and this is a wonderful time of fellowship and encouragement for which I am truly grateful.

But I have to admit praying sometimes makes me uncomfortable. I’ve never been totally comfortable praying. Recently as I sat praying with my small group, my mind started to wander, and I started to think about what prayer means. I know it means “talking to God” but I was hoping for some deeper understanding.

Suddenly a verse suddenly popped into my mind: “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)

God revealed something to me, in an out-of-the-blue understanding of a simple yet profound truth: When we pray, we must pray as though God is right here with us … because God IS right here with us!

We need to speak to God as though Jesus were standing in front of us, hanging on every word … because HE IS!

When we pray our words are not dispersing into the air; they are being heard by God, whose Spirit lives within us (1 Corinthians 3:16) and who hears us because He is with us, not as a vague spirit but as a living person.

Jesus promises that when you pray he is right here with you. Not only that, He promised that He is “with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) When we pray, let’s speak to the One who “will never leave you nor forsake you”, as though He is right there with you … because HE IS!

Questions: Are your prayers sometimes abstract and generic? How could keeping in mind God’s presence with you help keep them personal and specific?

by Darren Hewer

Used by permission
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