​Her smile grew as I shared my mishap with the recipe. I had used a tablespoon of salt instead of a teaspoon. We laughed till we cried knowing that laughter is good medicine and friendship is a gift. Our camaraderie was forged in common experiences and similar understandings. Life is tolerable when you have even one good friend.

But what if I were to tell you that my companion across the table was God? Does that interaction seem improbable, if not preposterous? I agree that the Creator of the world, The Sovereign who reigns for eternity, requires a specific protocol so that we may gain access to His royal throne room. On the other hand, I also know that His greatest desire is to meet with us and draw us close to share intimate times of fellowship and joy on a regular basis.

​But all too often we try to make it through each day without even acknowledging His presence in our lives. We barely “survive” life’s daily challenges in our own strength. We become exhausted, frustrated, and angry; disillusioned with God, not knowing why.

Every human being longs for rapport with our Creator/Father God.

Communication in relationship.

Strength by connection.

Forgiveness with compassion.

In fact, all the preparation that took place in the Tabernacle and Temple was performed so that the priest could meet with God in prayer on behalf of the people. Jesus, our eternal High Priest and final sacrifice, has opened this honor to all who seek to follow Him. Because of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice once for all, we have continual access to God’s throne of Grace.

Prayer takes you there. It’s a meeting where we confess our failings, our sins, and He extends His grace and mercy, drawing us close. It is our meeting place with God. It’s where He shares His heart with us and we praise and thank Him for it. Those moments are times when He opens our eyes to understand His eternal Word to learn what pleases Him so that we find favor in His sight; opportunities to acquire direction for today and hope for tomorrow.  

Here’s a snippet of a conversation Moses had with God in Exodus 33:13-14 -

Moses: "Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too, that this nation is Your people."
 God: "My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest."

An audience with the King of kings is available through prayer.
Will we make it a priority to meet up with Him today?
 
As a concrete reminder for daily practice, you may find this acrostic of PRAYER helpful:
​
P ROCLAIM – Proclaim Jesus as King in your life, your home, your job. Exalt His name; using names by which He is known. As you lift Him up, you place everything else into proper perspective (i.e. under His feet.)
Psalm 108:4-5 For Your lovingkindness is great above the heavens, and Your truth reaches to the skies.  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and Your glory above all the earth.

R EPENT – You are a human being with a sinful nature. You need to ask to be washed clean from your sins so that you can stand in His presence.
James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

A DORE – Upon being washed clean, you are now in the very presence of Almighty God. You have been brought there by the blood of Jesus. Praise and worship the one who created the universe and who loves you with an everlasting love.    
Revelation 5:11-13 ¶ Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."  And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."
 
Y EARN - Yearn for a deeper relationship with Him. Pray for a “hunger” to be in His presence.  
Psalm 42:1-2a As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;
 
E NTREAT – Bring your problems, requests, needs, hurts, etc. to Him.  
1 Timothy 2:1-4 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,  for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
 
R EJOICE – He is the Lord of all and over all! He has heard your prayer and has said that He will answer. Rejoice and give thanks…with abandon!
Psalm 91:15 "He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
Psalm 118:4-6 Oh let those who fear the LORD say, "His lovingkindness is everlasting." From my distress I called upon the LORD; The LORD answered me and set me in a large place. The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?
Psalm 118:28-29 You are my God, and I give thanks to You; You are my God, I extol You. Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord GOD is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds' feet, And makes me walk on my high places.