Every once in a while, I pause and think about how cool heaven is going to be one day. Last year I read the Left Behind series, and made a startling revelation. One day, I’m going to be able to talk to God and he’s going to talk to me.

I know that sounds like a “duh!” But have you really thought about it? Those of us that are sure of our salvation, know that one day we’ll be in heaven. And we sometimes think about getting to see loved ones, kicking back on the “proverbial puffy cloud” and chatting with family and friends. However, have you ever really thought about meeting God face to face, and talking to Him…in person?

That thought got me thinking.  I pray to God every day. We probably all pray at one time or another. Do we believe He’s listening to our prayer… really listening? Do our words become “lip service” to Him? Does it become a practiced set of things we say or ask for? If we really believed that our prayers were from our lips to His ear, would we be more reverent and less demanding? Would we complain less and praise more?

Getting a little nervous? Why does it sounds so scary to know that God will be face to face with us one day, and we’ll talk like best buddies? Will our words be different if we’re standing before Him?   Why?   It shouldn’t matter if we’re bowing our heads to pray or talking to Him in person. Our respect and awe for Him should be the same. He is our Heavenly Father, the King of kings, the Maker of all creation.

When I tuck my daughter in at night, I watch her bow her head, close her eyes, tent her little hands to pray, and wonder what she says to Him. Her reverence is clear. She is pouring her little 8 year old heart out to the God she knows loves her dearly. I don’t think she has any doubt that He’s listening. So as adults, how did we loose that reverence along the way? We have become so distracted and lackadaisical with our prayers, that they have become boring, monotonous and sad.

Jesus prayed with respect and emotion. Hebrews 5:7 says,

“While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God.”

Jesus’ prayers were not “lip service.” Jesus didn’t get distracted in the middle of a prayer with thoughts of tomorrow’s “to do” list. He didn’t fall asleep in the middle of a prayer, because even he was bored with it.

The next time you stop to pray, stop. Psalm 46:10 says,

“Be still and know that I am God.”

Be still. Take the time to reverently bow your head, focus your thoughts, and talk to Him, just like He was in the room sitting beside you. He is hanging on to your every word, make those words count.