As nearly as I can figure, when God dictates that we should pray without ceasing (1 Th. 5:17), it has nothing to do with collecting information and everything to do with unceasing affirmation from our Father that we matter to Him. If He already knows everything, what other explanation is possible?

I do labor when I pray at times, not so much over what God wants, but what I want from God. Still though. While any worthwhile discussion about important matters should be passionate, I can’t help but wonder if my angst in prayer doesn’t belie who God is while revealing a shortfall in my faith.

Here’s the deal: What’s important about prayer is not that I understand it but that I practice it.

In the same way God makes us parents and uses that relationship as a metaphor for our relationship with Him, He gives us the metaphor of marriage. As parents, we grasp a bit better what God means when He says He is our Father and we are His children. As a spouse, we are better able to conceptualize our relationship with God when He says He is like a husband and we are like His wife.

Thinking then about prayer within the context of marriage, I talk with my wife and don’t fully understand the exchange—and neither does she—but we enjoy and engage in the practice.

Prayer is similar!