Seeing Prayer

A few days ago I was praying and I kind of got the thought in my head, "How do I see prayer?"  Do I truly see it as communication with my heavenly Father, a true belief that He is hearing and listening and answering?  Do I feel it is reaching for His hand and heart, seeking answers, seeking deliverance, healing, salvation....Do I believe it's effective, a powerful weapon against Satan, against sin, against temptation?  Am I really believing prayer works?  

I pray.  A lot.  Consistently.  But sometimes I feel like I don't put my belief and trust in the words I speak, or in the God I speak to.  I don't really mean this in that I don't believe God.  I mean I'm praying because I know it's what I'm supposed to do, but not with the sense of expectancy I should be.  Almost as if I don't believe my prayers are weapons that reach heaven's throne and find their way into the hands of our loving Father.  I'm struggling to put into words the doubts and confusion in my heart over this issue.  I believe, but I struggle to not pray by rote.  I know I'm doing what God wants me to do when I pray, but I lack something.  And I can't put my finger on it.  I guess God will be revealing this in steps.  LOL  

And so as this thought came into my mind, I resolved to study prayer more deeply.  I've set my mind to picture myself coming before my Father, prayers in hand so that He can take them and work His answers out in the right way at the right time. I've settled my heart to believe He is active with what I ask Him, and that I will know that there is power in prayer because the One I speak to is all powerful.  

I've been praying a lot lately that the Lord would take me deeper with and closer to Him.  I think this latest God visit is in answer to my hearts cry.  I know He is calling me to a new level of intimacy and communion with Himself.  I am so excited for this!  Where will He take me next?  Where is He taking you?

Lord, another amazing, enlightening, growing visit.  I'm so blessed by Your constant working in me.  I pray, and yes I believe as I pray, that You want us to pray with meaning, with power, with expectancy and with belief.  Help us to pray with the knowledge that we are doing a real thing when we pray, as much as any physical action we can take.  I think that is the next step in this revelation.  To see prayer as a real, active, almost tactile action to take.  That it's more alive, more real, more powerful than anything we can do in the physical realm.  Give us Your heart for prayer.  It is in Jesus' Name I come and lay this request in You capable, loving hands.  Amen.

Do a study on prayer.