Principal's Ponderings

Chatting with Jesus

Prayer is not a duty. It is not a formal speech or something we have to get right. It is a conversation with Jesus, the One who knows us best and loves us most. He is not keeping track of how long it has been since we last spoke, He is just thrilled to hear our voice. Like the father in the story of the prodigal son in the Bible, Jesus runs toward us with open arms the moment we turn His way (Luke 15:20).

Have you ever had a dear friend you have not spoken to in ages? Life gets busy, time races ahead and before you know it, it can be months, even years, that have passed. But then something prompts you, or you pass something that reminds you of them. Maybe it is a song, an old photo, a movie or something that someone says, maybe a shared memory pops into your head that makes you laugh out loud and suddenly your heart swells with warmth. You start thinking about all the things you would say if you could just sit down and chat. Imagine the stories you would share, the questions you would ask, the joy of simply hearing their voice again.

That feeling, the longing to reconnect, the deep happiness of being known and understood, I wonder if that is what God feels longing for you and me to chat with Him in prayer?

Sometimes, we let shame or busyness keep us from talking to Jesus. We think, 'I should pray more… I haven’t talked to God in so long… What if I don’t have the right words?' But Jesus never sees us as an obligation. He sees us as His beloved. He just wants us close.

Philippians 4:6 reminds us: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” No filter needed. No perfect words required. Just bring everything to Him, your joys, your mess, your questions, your fears. He wants to hear it all.

I love how Charles Spurgeon put it: “True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that, it is a spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.” When we pray, we are not sending words into the sky, we’re speaking to the One who truly listens. The One who collects our tears as it says in Psalm 56:8, the One who rejoices over us with singing as we read in Zephaniah 3:17,  the One who loves us with an everlasting love as it says in Jeremiah 31:3.

Sometimes, we hesitate to pray because we feel we do not have the right words. But prayer is not about perfection, it is about honesty. Romans 8:26 says that even when we do not know what to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. Jesus simply invites us to come as we are.

Corrie ten Boom once asked, “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tyre?” Prayer should be our constant connection to God, not just something we turn to in emergencies.

When we pray, we align our hearts with His. We grow in faith. We receive comfort, wisdom and strength. Most importantly, we step into the presence of the One who loves us more than we can imagine.

Why pray? Because Jesus is waiting. Because He loves us. Because in His presence we find peace. Let us talk to Him today. Simply, just talk.

Let us not put off that conversation. Let us run to Jesus, like we would run to a long-lost friend, arms open, heart full. Let us pour out our souls, knowing that He already understands. Let us sit with Him in the quiet, knowing that He speaks, too.

“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1

Jesus is waiting. Let us start talking.

Shalom,

Chad Smit