I remember the first time I truly entered my prayer “closet”. I was seeking a deeper relationship with God. I couldn’t understand how some Christians could pray for hours. I wondered if I could. This was my first attempt to pray for a sustained amount of time.

I began to pray about everything that came to my mind. When I finished, it seemed I had prayed for about ten or fifteen minutes. I was attempting to pray for at least an hour so I stole a quick peek at my wristwatch to see how much longer I had to go. It had been about three minutes!

Jesus’ disciples asked him to teach them how to pray. They no doubt had observed Jesus’ intense and long discussions with the Father. They wanted to pray like Jesus.

My first prayers were more like King James. That’s the types of prayers I heard in church. It was like this special language. Men's voices would change when they prayed and they used a lot of "Thees" and "Thous." Then I heard my first conversational prayer. It blew me away. Such sincerity and simplicity. I wanted to pray like that.

I also observed how my mother's prayer life changed once she found out she was not going to recover from her cancer. You would swear Jesus was standing in the room with her when she spoke with him. I was her minister. I didn’t pray like that. I remember asking God,

“Father, do I have to get cancer to be able to pray like her?”

His answer was clear,

“No, you just have to know me.”

How can you hold a sustained and meaningful conversation with a stranger? I think that was why it was first so difficult for me to pray. I didn’t know God that well. We didn’t have much in common.

As I grew in my walk with God, I started to learn him. Up until that time I only knew ABOUT him. But, I didn't KNOW him. Huge difference.

Now, I spend much time listening when I pray. I pray easily at any place and anytime. More recently I have started to sense when he comes to me. This is an awesome side of prayer. It must have been what Mother was experiencing. When he comes, he brings different moods with him. Sometimes he is sad about the sin in the world. We cry together. Sometimes he brings his supernatural peace or joy. We laugh together. His presence is breathtakingly beautiful.

As you come to know him better your prayer life will increase. As you seek him, he will begin to find you and come to you. You will find yourself becoming more sensitive to his Spirit. You will know when he shows up at your worship or by your bedside. You will begin to discern truth. You will begin to discern him.

We have an awesome God. He has granted us the privilege of holding deep and sustained conversation with him, spirit to Spirit. We have the double blessing of hearing him clearly and sensing his moods.

I pray you soon discover him. There is no god like him. There is no god but him.