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23 May – The Basics (Pt 1) – Prayer of the Heart

I recently came across this diagram of a wheel with 4 spokes that represented the basics of the Christian life.

Careful attention to the basics of  living  in a relationship with God is the best way to remain close and aware of Him for a lifetime. When we find ourselves in confusion or a spiritual slump, if we can get back to basics of our Christian walk we will find ourselves on solid ground again.

What are the Christian basics? They can be expressed in this simple “wheel diagram”

The wheel shows four spokes: prayer, study, service, and community. Two of the spokes – prayer and study – ­are vertical and have to do with the relationship between us and God. The other two spokes – ­service and community – are horizontal and have to do with the relationship between us and other people.

These 4 spokes are basic ways in which the power of God and a relationship with Him can be brought into our daily lives.

When all four spokes are in place, our lives are steady and well balanced. When one or more spokes are damaged or missing, we get out of balance and off kilter, and our life with the Lord becomes a rather bumpy ride.

1.The first spoke on the wheel is Prayer.

Our goal is not “to pray,” or even “to pray well,” but to know Him and to grow in our personal relationship with God.

There is a lot of material on how to pray, when to pray, where to pray, how often to pray, and so on. It can become overwhelming: But in actual fact prayer really is very simple. It is a matter of loving God and being loved by him, of speaking (if it is a necessity) to God and letting him speak to us. It’s not so complicated after all.

When God created the world there was big bang. From His very being a explosion of power burst forth of God’s love and compassion – all that He is. The universe is encompassed by that essence, by that love. Essentially the very air we breathe is filled with God. To experience Him we need only turn our face towards him and recognise He is there.

“God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’(Acts 17:28)

The basics of our relationship rest in the understanding that He is all around us. When we invite him to share our life He is in us, and we are in Him. Life with God is about knowing Him and being close. That friendship motivates us to stay close, not wanting to “Do, say or think anything that would offend Him”

When we center in Him, and listen within our heart it allows us to have a deepening relationship with God that is always present within us. It will nourish us from the depths of our soul, and grounds us in who we are in Him, and His love for us, and ours for Him. Through the simplicity of loving God and being loved by Him we discover a friend, a companion and one who loves us. 

Prayer can be like two old friends sitting on a park bench who’ve known each other for 50 years. They absolutely enjoy each other, and they enjoy looking at the park. They don’t feel like they have to say or do anything. They just enjoy being together.

“By this we know that we remain in Him; and He in us” ( 1 John 4:13)

In our busy, doing world the biggest battle in prayer is that we will ask ourselves “Shouldn’t I be doing something?” The answer is No, we can just enjoy His presence.  Everything flows out of that place and space. Whatever He may ask of us to bless others, flows from the overflow of our hearts.

God takes pleasure in us, and He wants to be wanted. The greatest way we can love Him is to receive His love, and not overlook Him in our daily lives. 

Enjoy Him today!

Prayer: Lord thank you that that I can come to you and simply enjoy being with you. I don’t have to do anything. Help me to wait and listen; not to the sound of the outer world, but to the quietness and peace that is found in your love. In Jesus Name Amen.

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