Lazy Days

This past Saturday, my husband and I spent what felt like a decadent day. We did not blow the budget, nor did I stray from my healthy eating plan. How did we pass the day? It was by “doing” almost nothing. We lingered over our coffee and talked and talked and talked. About big things and little things. About people we love. About decorating for Christmas. About our past. About the dream that God has placed in us and our next steps.

We never run out of things to talk about. Give us a bit of time together and my husband and I will drive right past our own house because we are talking. We still sit in the van in the garage and finish a conversation before we go into the house, even though we are empty-nesters now. We are communicators and we show love through conversation.

Life gets busy, and stays busy these days and often there is so little time for a full conversation. Days when we pass in the kitchen and blurt out all the things we want and need to say to each other in a disjointed way before we have to leave, just so they are said. This leads to things being forgotten, misinterpreted and misunderstood. Ineffective. We do not have time to waste being ineffective in this life, especially in communication. Our relationship is too valuable for that.

Sometimes I can treat my prayer time like this too. “Sorry, Lord I have an early meeting this morning so here’s my list of needs. Love you. See you tonight.” I do not have the confidence in these prayers being answered, not because God is not able, but because I have been ineffective in prayer and treated time with the One who loves me most of all in an insignificant way. I am not refreshed or encouraged because I do not give Him time to do so.

Prayer is conversation with God. He wants us to be real in conversation, no King James language (unless you talk that way all the time), just a conversation with someone we love. Laughing, crying, bursting into song, speaking, and listening. Effective. Refreshing. Fulfilling. Life changing.

That Saturday with my husband was simple but what my uncle would describe as “wonderous”. I was heard. I was loved. I was accepted. I hope he felt the same.

How I long for my prayer life to be like this. God always hears me. He always loves me. He has accepted me. I hope He feels the same after we have had time together.

I love the Lord because he hears my prayers and answers them. Psalm 116:11 TLB

Maybe you feel the same. Perhaps it has been a long time since you have prayed effectively and sincerely, or maybe a long time since you have prayed at all. Dear friend, He’s waiting, longing for that “lazy day” or a coffee break to have a conversation with you. He loves you. He hears you. Just start the conversation and your life will be changed.