As I sit at my desk and write this, I am listening to my 13-year-old daughter chat it up on FaceTime with her best friend, Jessica. This is after she spent about 30 minutes chatting with her best friend/cousi
n, Mercy. Ellie will talk to her friends anytime, anywhere, for as long as she is permitted.They might be an hour away, but these girls are still in our house often – thanks to the wonders of technology!
These conversations are rarely ended by the girls themselves. They are almost always ended by parents coming in and saying, “Enough time on the phone,” “Time for homework” or “Go to bed!”. The girls would talk all night if we let them. These friendships are important, and it seems like they never run out of topics of conversation.
Ellie longs to talk to her friends. She wants to know what’s going on in their lives, she wants to share with them what’s happening here. They talk about all kids of things – right now, she’s discussing sharing her faith with kids who don’t believe in Jesus. A minute ago, she was discussing birthday parties and annoying brothers. Wait, now she’s on with friend #3, Natalie…
As I listen to the stream of conversation, I think about the most important conversation: prayer. Paul says we should pray without ceasing (I Thess. 5:17). We should talk to God the way Ellie talks to her friends: all the time about everything. I had a youth pastor who encouraged us to never say “Amen,” so that the prayers we start in the morning continue all day – every thought is a prayer. Our conversation with Jesus never stops. It just pauses occasionally.
Prayer shouldn’t just be something we do before a meal or a test or a hard time. It should be part of the vibrant, growing relationship we have with Jesus – the friend who sticks closer than a brother. We can talk to Him about anything. We can praise Him, thank Him, worship Him in prayer anytime. So put down the phone and pick up your prayers.
That means you, too, Ellie 😉
