A lot of us treat prayer like that vending machine. We come with our selections, pay with the right “sacrifice” — good behavior, emotional sincerity, long enough prayers — and expect the desired outcome. And when it doesn’t happen? We get frustrated… maybe even shake the machine a bit.
But prayer isn’t transactional. It’s relational. Just like marriage, the real work actually begins after you say, “I do”. A healthy marriage is learning how to communicate with each other. And prayer is no different.
Your relationship with God deepens over time. You grow in your ability to hear Him, to trust His tone, to speak His language. Prayer isn’t just talking at God — it’s listening, waiting, and learning what matters most to Him.
Prayer isn’t like a vending machine and getting something — it’s a relationship where you get to know someone. Saying “I do” to Jesus is just the beginning. Real prayer grows over time as we learn His language, His tone, and His heart.
Jesus said in John 15.15, “I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you.”
Here’s how to grow in that friendship:
1. Silence doesn’t always mean sin.
Sometimes you’re just learning how to hear. God’s quiet may be an invitation to lean in closer (Psalm 27.8).
2. Ask better questions.
Instead of “Why aren’t You answering?” try “What are You showing me about You right now?” (Jeremiah 29.13)
3. Time matters.
Like in any good relationship, depth comes with presence and persistence, not speed (Luke 5.16).
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This week, think about how, if prayer is like a marriage, what would it look like for you to stop rushing the conversation and start learning God’s love language?
God bless —
Nathan
