| Mom's in the Kitchen - article by Joel Hempel
Walking into my house as a teenager, I asked Dad, “Is mom around?” “She’s in the kitchen.” If my mom wasn’t watching As the World Turns, bowling with friends, or preparing the altar for Sunday worship at church, she would be in the kitchen. As an adolescent, knowing I could always find Mom was comforting. She was the easy one to talk to. Dad was more detached; Mom was God’s grace. Sitting on a stool in the kitchen, I could talk with her about anything: dating girls, what I wanted to be when I grew up, Walther League activities, or my summer job at the machine shop where Dad was the General Foreman. Talking to Mom back then was like talking with God now. Once I realized I could talk with God the way I talked with Mom, God became closer to me. Of course, you understand that we can’t do anything to bring God closer to us. He is always with us (Matthew 28:20) and even within us (Galatians 2:20). But when we pray, we are more aware of God and his care. As I’m sure you recall, Jesus’ disciples once asked him to teach them how to pray. Our Lord then gave them the prayer the entire Christian world prays. The Lord’s Prayer is a model for an intimate conversation with our Father. Each petition is the beginning of a conversation God wants to have with us. For example, “thy kingdom come” seeks to have God rule in our hearts and take control of our lives. It’s a plea for humility and submission. We can pause at this petition and reflect on where we resist giving over control to God. Prayer with God, like a conversation with Mom, is two-way. Thus, listening is as critical as talking with the Father. How can we hear God? I agree with those who say God speaks most clearly through his Word. But God’s Word is located strategically where we need to hear or see it. God’s response can be found within us, in other Christians, in the arts, in hymns and stories, and even on bumper stickers and necklaces. We can hear God speaking to us through creation. Do you think he doesn’t place his signature on his masterpiece? But, to hear God, you have to become an introvert. I’m not saying that just because I am one. When praying, we have to stop talking and crying out. We need to be still, and trust God is nearby and will intervene as his wisdom directs. A closing prayer that can set our hearts at rest is: “Help me, Lord, to trust you and your love for me.” And then, settle into his peace. How do we do that? We ask for increased faith to receive the peace of God which will guard [keep anxiety out of] our hearts and minds [wrapped] in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). | 
