Prayer: Perceive, and then Give Answer
Praying means “being so still that we perceive God’s word to us” (p. 52).
But then, it also means answering this word, “whether in words or in deeds”. Praying means coming close to God and wanting to remain close, because He has come close to us. (p. 52)
Christ is the foundation of our prayer. We pray only because He is there. 
Christ is also the strength of our prayer, and it is through His strength we endure in prayer. Because He is our strength, prayer “make us happy and strong”. It is our perspective of prayer — in address, in approach, in attitude — that shifts our lives and aligns our souls with His will.
Bonhoeffer concluded that “those who pray can no longer be fearful and no longer be sad” because of God’s nearness to us when we pray.
Be encouraged Royal Ones, and remember the fundamentals of relationship with God. When we draw near to Him, then He draws near to us. He is NEVER far away from us. Even if we meet a crisis of belief, faith is still near us, in our mouths.
Let’s respond to God’s word, that precious utterance He releases in prayer. Let’s show Him we heard Him — in words or deeds.
Selah, and love to all.
Reference: Bonhoeffer, D. (1906-1945). I want to live these days with you: A year of daily devotions. (O. C. Dean, Jr., Trans.). London, England: Westminster John Knox Press.
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