Earlier this morning I was enjoying chatting on the internet with a friend who lives many miles away and it occurred to me how much of a blessing technology is in the pursuit of staying connected in our relationships. Today, we have cell phones, text messaging, the internet, and web cams to help connect us.  However, I have learned over the years that in order for friendships to remain strong and vibrant, they need more than a gadget.  They need to be appreciated.

In this day and age with all the new communication tools, it should be much simpler than in days past to stay in touch, but that doesn’t always seem to be the case. Though today's tools can bridge the gap of distance and allow us to remain directly connected with people, it takes more than the technology available to make it happen. It is all too easy to let a relationship quietly drift away simply because we don’t make the effort or take the time to foster it. When we don’t show that we value the relationship before we know it, it is gone.

As important as it is to cultivate our bond with the people God has blessed us with, it is even more essential to strengthen our connection with the One who gifts us with those relationships. I read very thought provoking devotional a few weeks ago that really got me searching my heart. It asked how connected I am with the Lord. While reading it, I questioned myself as to what I am doing to strengthen that connection. I read the Bible, I worship and I pray. But do I truly appreciate the availability of prayer? Do I come before God with a thankful heart that truly values the privilege it is to come before Him? Not always. That revelation caused me to pause. Being connected to God through prayer is a joy and a gift of immeasurable value...but so often, that gift is taken for granted.

In the days of the Old Covenant, leading up to Christ’s crucifixion, only the High Priest was allowed to pass through the curtain that separated the people from the Most Holy Place in the Jerusalem’s Temple. Once a year, the High Priest entered that sacred place to offer sacrifices before the Lord as atonement for the people’s sin. “But only the high priest ever entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance”(Hebrews 9:7).

When Christ offered Himself as the final sacrifice for our sins the curtain was torn and a new covenant was made. At the moment of Christ’s death, the barrier between God and humanity was split in two enabling all people to approach God directly through our Eternal High Priest – Jesus Christ. “It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When He had said this, He breathed his last” (Luke 23:44-46).

How precious is the gift of prayer when we understand the measures our Savior went to allow us direct access to Him! Not only did Christ’s sacrifice on the cross pay for our sins, it also tore down the barrier between us. No longer are we separated!  God invites us into the Most Holy Place where we can continually share in sweet communion with Him. There is no longer a divide in our communication. We are linked through the One who gave His all for us.

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water”(Hebrews 10:19-22).

Praise God for the Gift of prayer! I am so thankful God desires this connection with me...and with all of us! As we move forward, let us always appreciate the great privilege and joy it is to come before Him! As we remember the lengths to which Christ went to connect us, let us continually pray with thankfulness, rejoicing in the Lord.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)



Be sure to visit Iris over at Grace Alone for more Thankful Thursday posts.

Living for Him,

19 Comments

  1. Joan, how easy it is to take prayer for granted. Thank you for this wonderful reminder of the sacrifice Jesus endured so that we may enter in and have direct access. How fortunate we really are. It is good to be reminded and to be grateful.

    How thankful I am to be getting to know you better. Every one of your posts is written from your heart. And I love that about you.

    Blessings and love,
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  2. Amen, I am so very thankful for the beautiful gift of prayer.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJune 24, 2010

    I often forget to be thankful for the gift of prayer, but I know how wonderful it is. God has answered many of my spoken and unspoken prayers, He is so faithful and I am not. I am thankful that he doesn't hold my fickleness against me. Great post - thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  4. i've very guilty of neglecting prayer. yet he still speaks to me. how awesome is the God we serve that he would know how disconnected we would allow ourselves to become - yet he still sent Jesus so that connection would be available!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJune 24, 2010

    I deleted your lovely comment by mistake! I'm so sorry! Can you send it again? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lambechops - I just resent it. Hopefull it worked! Thanks again for visiting!

    Blessings to you!

    Joan

    ReplyDelete
  7. Amen Amen...i am also so Thankful for the gift of prayer to us.....

    Blessings
    bernice

    ReplyDelete
  8. WOW! How true! I do take for granted how I'm allowed to talk with God personnally and how He cares.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I loved your post - prayer is one of those things that we can all use reminders about. Such a privilege to go to God in prayer.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh my goodness! This is a wonderful post about being connected to God in prayer and about taking care of our friendships! Thank you so much for this, and for your comments to me!
    Have a Blessed Day!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you for this post! I have read this over and over and am so glad I came to visit. I love the way you reminde us to be thankful for our time in prayer with God! Have a blessed day!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Joan:

    Thank you for visiting me today (I agree, I smile when I visit your blog and type "our" name. :) (Actually, I don't know very many Joans).

    Prayer is a precious gift and I admit my prayer life needs strengthening. We are so priviledge to be able to go directly before the throne of Grace.

    Thanks for your leaving a comment. Yes, I remember records and still have a few of them, but we aren't telling our age. :)

    Blessings to you. I alway enjoy your writing.

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousJune 24, 2010

    As usual your posts are inspirational to me! xo

    ReplyDelete
  14. I agree with everyone's comments. Great post! Happy TT.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Joan,

    Amen! Thank you for this precious reminder of the privilege of prayers. Thank God that He desires our fellowship and to connect with us. He loves us so dearly! Among all the connections we can have with people around us, it is with Him that is most important and precious. Thanks for sharing with us. Thanks for your visit. Take care and have a wonderful weekend.

    Warm regards,
    Nancie

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousJune 25, 2010

    oh PS - I have added your blog buton to my 'fav blogs' button at the top of my page. xo

    ReplyDelete
  17. The power of prayer and staying connected ... Lovin' it.

    Delighted to meet you today. I hope you don't mind if I splash around a bit to get to know you. This looks like a delightful spot to slip off my shoes and drench myself in God's goodness.

    Splashin,
    Sara

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh, Joan...I am so glad reading through your archive tonight - I needed to be reminded again that it is because of His precious blood we have access to the throne of Grace. Thank you...

    ReplyDelete

Join the conversation! (Be sure to add your first name so I know who I'm talking to!)