We have been considering the elements of prayer – recognizing God’s presence, confession of sins, recognizing God’s forgiveness, praise, and petition.  But prayer is more than these elements.  Prayer is communion with God.  It is possible to include all the elements of prayer and miss the main point – a relationship with God.

My children could recognize my presence in the house, apologize when they are naughty, recognize that I forgive them, thank me when I do something for them, and ask me for things without much more than an acquaintence level relationship.  In the same way we can include all the elements of prayer and miss a deep relationship with God.

Prayer in the Psalms is more than a mere conversation; it is communion with God.  They want God.  Consider the following verses:

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
– Psalm 63:1

As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
– Psalm 42:1-2

One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple.
– Psalm 27:4

This is more than mere conversation.  This is a desire to know God and spend time with him.  This is about relationship.  Prayer is communion with God. 

When you pray, are you just talking?  Or are you communing with your God?