The Simplicity of Prayer

Have you ever questioned your prayer life? Do you pray? How does Jesus talk to you?

“I will make you pancakes today, and after I talk to my friend, we can eat them together” I said to my daughter early this morning, as I walked into my office to make a short phone call.

Unbeknown to me, she thought I meant we were having a visitor come over to our home, and at some point, while I was talking on the phone, she offered a silent prayer, “Dear Jesus, I hope the friend comes soon so I can eat pancakes.”

After my phone call, I came out and made pancake batter and began frying. As I worked in the kitchen, I reflected on the phone call. I had discussed my personal prayer life and had questions about the way Jesus communicates with me.

Since much of my content for His Herd revolves around my prayer life, I had questions around some of my content too.

I pleaded with Jesus, as I cooked, to be shown clearly a few answers to my questions. I said to Him, “Lord, I’ll know you are talking to me and leading me, and you want me to continue with this ministry, if you could just show me one sign. One clear sign today. One black and white, clear as day sign!”

As I finished that sentence, I had an unexpected knock at the door. It was a friend who used to be our neighbour. His wife designed my His Herd logo. He is a sign-writer and designer extraordinaire, and I haven’t seen him in the flesh for several years. It was a joy to briefly catch up!

The purpose for his visit, was to deliver a business sign to me, to hang at my front door, so I can let people know when I am recording live podcasts.

When he left, my daughter exclaimed, “Yay, Jesus listened to me, and we can eat the pancakes together now! You’ve finished talking to your friend!”

Her faith is so simple. She believed her prayer had been answered.

I picked up the black and white sign and took it to my office. I placed it down, took a deep breath, and asked God to answer my prayer soon too.

But what if my prayer had literally been answered in receiving that sign?

I’m still in doubt, coincidences happen.

But maybe, just maybe, prayer is simple, and Jesus answers us with simplicity, and I just need a childlike faith like my daughter?

 ‘If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.’ Matthew 21:22

‘This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.’ 1 John 5:14-15

~ Tamika Spaulding ~