Hello, God It's me: A Journey into PRAYER

By Christine DiGiacomo

In a time of much uncertainty in today's world, getting to know God is something a person will never regret. God is not only all powerful, but he is eternally good; he is not just strong and mighty but is tender as a mother with a babe at her breast. God is not just majestic, but delightful. Prayer enables every individual to experience God personally. Hello, God. It's Me. is a gentle journey into prayer. Since prayer is the mechanism whereby we can maintain a constant, open connection to God, it is vital to develop a daily habit of both talking to God and listening for his voice. The voice of God leads, guides, comforts, instructs, and tenderly convicts his children. There is nothing quite like it in all the world. Much about prayer can be learned from the pages of Scripture as Christine invites the inquirer to investigate and apply. Learning to spend a little set-apart time each day in prayer is both life-giving and life changing and sets the stage for an ongoing dialogue for all one's waking hours. Want to learn to pray? This is your little book. Want to develop a discipline for prayer? This is your little guide. Want to get to know God more? Read, think, write, pray, and grow. Want to give the gift of prayer? Gift this little jewel. Hello, God. It's Me. is simple, but deep; sweet, but profound; down-to-earth, but will connect the reader to the divine.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644718346

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Week 1, Day 1

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.

Spring has sprung, and it brings with it the hope and promise of new things to come. My apricot tree is starting to get little buds, which will turn to white blossoms, signaling that fruit is on the way. Yippee!

As you read these words, you are beginning a journey into prayer—a new opportunity for spiritual growth—taking God’s words to us and breathing out our thoughts, emotions, sighs, requests, praise, and needs to him. Therein is the lifeblood of our walk with God.

Several years ago, I asked the question, What is prayer? Most folks said, It is talking to God. Hmm. It is so much more than that, dear one, as we will see.

The disciples had front row seats to Jesus’s prayer life. They watched as he regularly withdrew to spend time in prayer with his Father. Smart boys, they knew that if Jesus needed to pray, then they certainly did! And so they asked the Lord to teach them to pray. Locate Matthew 6 and read verses nine through thirteen. Just as Jesus addressed God as Father, he instructed the disciples, and every disciple of his since, to pray to God as heavenly Father.

Our Father, Jesus modeled. Friend, you are the center of your heavenly Father’s affection. That is where you find rest for your soul. If you remove prayer from the welcoming heart of God, (as much teaching on the Lord’s Prayer does), prayer becomes a legalistic chore. We do the duty but miss touching the heart of God. We have much more to learn about praying, but by coming like a little child to our Father, we have learned the heart of prayer.¹

Oh, he is a good, good Father. Is he yours?

Prayer point: pray that God will increase your desire to know him, to talk with him, and to read his Word.

Walk it out: turn off some of the noise around you. Invite God to speak to you!

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¹ Paul E. Miller, A Praying Life (NavPress, 2017).

Hello, God. It’s Me.

Week 1, Day 2

Psalm 66:3—Say to God, How awesome are your deeds!

Hallowed be thy name is the second line of the Lord’s Prayer. Hallowed? Not a word commonly used today, but it means sanctified or consecrated, such that God’s name is holy and set apart. Thus, it is so good, so right to start our prayer uttering adoration for the magnificent God of the universe—who has always been, who created all, knows all, and is all powerful—and yet wants to be intimate with each of us, too! Isn’t that a staggering notion? Indeed.

Have you ever met a celebrity, maybe a musician or writer, whose work has moved you in some way? You cannot keep the words in your mouth; why, you burst forth with words such as, I love your latest book—it has really motivated me, and I’m so excited to meet you! When I think of who the Father is—his character and his ways, how he loves me—I want to bless him with my words. I am wowed by 2 Corinthians 6:18; please write it.

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In praying to my heavenly Father, I remember how Jesus modeled prayer for us, speaking words of adoration right at the start. Ah, how fitting it is for me to give my Father his due! Somehow, it reminds me of my smallness before him as I see myself rightly; makes me think of what John said, He must become greater; I must become less (John 3:30). Let the whole earth shout joyfully to God! Sing about the glory of his name; make his praise glorious (Psalm 66:1–2).

Words sung by the psalmists oft form the beginnings of my morning prayers to the Lord. Beautiful, apt, elevating.

Prayer point: pray the Lord’s Prayer, and when you say, Hallowed be thy name, say it in another way, too. Hmm, how else could you say, Hallowed be your name?

Walk it out: write down one or more of the verses from Psalm 66 on a card or sticky note, and carry it with you today. Breathe it out to God as you go along your way.

Hello, God. It’s Me.

Week 1, Day 3

The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

the righteous run to it and are safe.

—Proverbs 18.10

Hallowed be Thy name. What’s in a name? A name is a way of identifying someone, a way of establishing and recognizing familial relationship, a way of conveying power or authority.

There is so much to recognize about the precious name of God our Father, so it is not surprising that Jesus said, Hallowed be thy name, and it is true to the description of the name above all names. Let us open our beloved Bibles. Since most folks have the New International Version, that is what is used below. You can also check out www.biblegateway.com for the scriptures and compare various translations.

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