“But I thought prayer was easy! All I need to do is open my mouth and talk.” The point behind prayer shows even more clearly that prayer is still easy, all you need do is talk – but the last sentence highlights the reason why we pray.

We don’t pray just to get things. We don’t pray just to communicate with God. We don’t pray because we are commanded to. Prayer is part of the process we have which shows that we have faith in Christ and love for Christ.

Consider this scene. You have been praying to God for some time about an issue. You have been persistent in your prayer as you know might be the case. You have learned during your own prayer that it is you that needs the change in order for the result you recognise is a part of God’s will.

God has revealed to you through His word that you need to right a relationship that you have allowed to go sour. You don’t do anything about the issue. You are proud, or scared, you fear the consequences – and do nothing. Take note of the passage above, “Those who bring their petitions to God, claiming His promise while they do not comply with the conditions, insult Jehovah.”

To pray and recognise that you need to do something in response hurts our Father, we show that we have not got the faith in Him or the love for Him that our public persona seeks to reveal.

Prayer is a call to action. The prayer is probably easy – the actions called for may be hard. God is a God who doesn’t leave us alone in our difficulties. The promise in 2 Peter 1 is important, “God gives us all that we need for life and godliness.” If God is calling you to do a hard thing, then move ahead in faith and love because God will be there with you.