Our discussion today centers on the essential practice of maintaining an ongoing conversation with God, AKA the assurance of answered prayer. Drawing from biblical verses like 1 Thessalonians 5:17, which encourages us to "pray continually," we explore the significance of prayer beyond mere requests. I emphasize that prayer is a dialogue—an opportunity for us to engage with God rather than just list our needs. The episode highlights the value of cultivating a deeper relationship through spontaneous and heartfelt conversations, illustrating how this can transform our prayer life. By sharing personal experiences, I want to show that it’s not only about asking for things but also about enjoying the connection we have with our Creator.

Takeaways:

1. The podcast emphasizes the importance of maintaining a continuous conversation with God through prayer.
2. Prayer should not be reduced to a formula; it needs to be natural and genuine.
3. Building a relationship with God involves regular, meaningful conversations, not just requests.
4. Practicing gratitude and acknowledgment of God's presence can deepen one's prayer life.
5. Engaging in spontaneous conversations with God can enrich our daily experiences.
6. We are encouraged to pray about both small and large concerns in our lives.

Links referenced in this episode:

1. www.bible805.com

Companies mentioned in this episode:

1. Habitat for Humanity
2. Goodwill
3. Bible 805

Hi, welcome to the Hobo Soul podcast of road advice from the Bible and from me, Yvon Prehn, someone who's a little further down the road of life. I'll talk to you every weekday for about five to 10 minutes with periodic longer talks on serious Saturdays.

Let's get started with our topic today, which is:

Keep the conversation going, also known as assurance of answered prayer.

I have two verses for you today for our little talk. The first one is First Thessalonians 5:17 where it says "pray continually".

And the second one is Philippians 4:6 where it says "don't be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

When we read the Bible, God's talking to us and it's only polite for it to not be a one sided conversation. Prayer is when we talk back to Him.

Now, I'm not going to be suggesting some sort of prayer formula. I really dislike those.

I remember when I was younger it seemed like every talk or article on prayer recommended that you use what was called the Acts formula. This was the order and the different topics you were supposed to pray. It went something like this.

First A, adoration

Second C, confession

Third T, Thanksgiving

4th S supplication

Now don't get me wrong, these are all good aspects of prayer, but I think forcing them into every conversation you have with God would be kind of like a wife saying to her husband in every conversation,

"Dear Husband, I do so adore you. Your big brown eyes and strong arms and how hard you work and still find time to work in the garden with me. Oh, I do adore you for that.

I confess, I didn't do the errands you asked me to today. Instead of getting the oil changed on the car, I decided to shop at Home Goods during my break from work.

Next, I want to thank you for understanding when I am grumpy after a long day and don't feel like making dinner, even if it is my night to cook. And last of all, would you please help me get the shopping done this week? Do the greeting at church and give me extra hugs when I'm sad.

That's all for now. We'll talk again tomorrow."

And how can you imagine a relationship like that? How awkward, how stilted, how unnatural.

Do you really think God enjoys this sort of thing? I love Pete Greg's teaching on prayer and one comment that he made I found particularly thought provoking.

It's when he said, what will you talk to God about in heaven when you don't have any requests? Let's face it, that's what takes up so much of our time talking to him now. Now, again, not all requests are bad.

God does in fact tell us, "cast all your cares on him because he cares for us." And he also says, "don't worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything."

Asking God for things is very important. It's a part of our prayer life.

But there's so much more to it. So much more to a growing, loving relationship than just asking for things. In any relationship, you get to know another person by conversation.

And the strongest relationships are those that have the most frequent and in depth conversations.

It's also important to have spontaneous, fun ones. I was just outside in my garden before I came in to record this.

Now I have lots of succulents.I have a bird bath that I filled with ones that are like big flowers and I've never seen this before. They all had tiny little puddles of water in the center of each flower from a rain we had yesterday day.

I've never seen anything like this and I couldn't help exclaiming to God how fascinating and beautiful they all were. When we chat in the garden like this, and we do quite a bit because succulents to me are just such fascinating little creations. When we do that, I feel like He smiles.

We grow in our relationship by chatting with God all the time about anything and everything. Reading the Bible, of course, and then talking to God is a great habit to get into.

And when you combine it with journaling, putting in your thoughts, your prayers, your questions, they're sort of like written prayers. You can also just talk to God throughout the day. I like to start the day just by saying thank you.

I open up the curtains in my little home, look at the sky and plants in my garden, and I can't help but praise Him. It's natural. It's just an overflow of what I see.

I chat with him as I work on projects for the Bible, 805 Ministry for Wisdom and insight, for help and focus. And most recently I've had some really crazy computer issues and I'm praying for his protection and wisdom on that.

I'm very tech savvy, but I've had some very strange things happen and I can't help but think that it's enemy interference. So I pray. I pray.

When I shop that God will help me spend wisely and find what I need.

Now all my friends kind of kid me about this, so I'll share it with you. I have fun chatting with the Lord when I shop at thrift stores. I am quite the thrifter.

I started doing well, actually, I've always done that as I've lived on a very limited budget. But I started doing that more when I was redoing the little mobile home I live in.

It's over 50 years old and it needed all sorts of things that I couldn't afford to pay full price for. I started to pray specifically for things that I needed before trekking down to my local Habitat for Humanity and Goodwill stores.

And again and again, I'd find exactly that thing.

Now my friends tease me all the time about how I put in orders for God and he now politely and you know, always whatever he decides, but consistently he gives me what I need and just some wonderful things that I've wanted. Most recently, I needed a coat for the rainy season here in California. I prayed about it.

Then I go down to my local Bargain Box and I got a beautiful still, had the tags on it, new black trench coat, really nice brand, fit me perfectly for $15. Now I could share many stories. It's such fun, though, to find and praise God for these gifts that I know come from Him.

Pete Greg says that praying for little things like this isn't foolish or unnecessary, but that it can build up our prayer muscles for praying for bigger things. And it's good to pray for big things in the lives of others.

I have a dear friend that's having knee surgery this morning and last night and this morning I was asking the Lord for peace for her and wisdom and skill and healing wisdom for the surgeon, skill in what he does and that she heal without pain. We pray for our world and the trauma and the pain that people go through.

And we never forget that our world, though it's really big and out of our control, that God is still in control.

But also we need to remember that the first thing that Jesus recommended we do when we pray the Lord's Prayer, which is the pattern for so much prayer, is that we say Abba, Father, which as many of you know, was the familiar term to the English equivalent to Daddy.

So today, wherever you are, whatever you're doing, climb into the lap of your Abba, your Daddy, and tell him your wants and needs, your fears and concerns, big and little and everything in between. Simply draw close and chat. Practice praying like that and your prayer life will deepen and grow, more than listening to a dozen sermons about it,

Your Abba is waiting. Just start talking.

That's all for this podcast, for transcripts, links to related material, and much more to help you learn to know, trust, apply and teach the Bible. Go to www.bible805.com for now, let me end with this benediction and prayer.

May you walk each day and surrounded by the gracious love of the Father, guided by the gentle wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and conscious of the astoundingly real presence of Jesus, who will walk with you until you're no more a hobo soul, no more a transient wandering heart, but at home in the kingdom prepared for you with your God forever. Amen.