We’ve been considering the “ordinary means of grace” over the past few weeks. These are the means by which God ordinarily cares for us, comforting us, building us up into the image of Christ, sanctifying us, making us ready as a bride adorned for her husband. We’ve discussed the Word of God, particularly the preaching of the Word. We’ve also looked at the sacraments—baptism and the Lord’s Supper—as means by which he shows us his grace and encourages us. This week we are going to consider the third way in which God meets his people: prayer.

Another way of thinking of the ordinary means is as the structure given to a relationship. Any time two people are in a relationship, it has some sort of structure. There are ways in which they communicate, things that they talk about, hopefully boundaries that both are aware of, etc. But what every relationship has in common is communication. Sometimes we might even evaluate our relationships based upon the quality of the communication. That’s how important communication is in a relationship! God has spoken to us in his Word. We respond primarily in prayer. In prayer we praise God, thank him, make petition to him (ask him for help and provision), and confess our sins. In prayer we are expressing dependence upon God, implicitly acknowledging that he is the one who cares for us, and that he is our only source of what is truly needed. In confessing our sin, we are acknowledging that we are who he says we are—sinners in need of his grace and the salvation offered only in Jesus Christ.

As such, prayer reorients us to our true selves and our relationship with a loving God who invites us to come to him often in prayer. In doing so, it shapes us—God shapes us—into Christ’s image. After all, what characterized Christ’s relationship with the Father more than prayer? Christ was often in prayer, communing with the Father, thanking him, petitioning him, praising him.

So much more could be said about prayer! There are a couple of books on the book table to help you as you think through how to pray and why to pray. But I would encourage you more than anything to simply do it. Be often in fellowship with God by simply speaking to him. He loves you and desires your fellowship. Isn’t that mind blowing? The Creator of all things enjoys our company.

Pastor Matt