In the Old Testament we often find God in conversation with his people. Conversational prayer entailed discussing the events of the day and seeking God’s will for the future. In these conversations with the Creator, we find the believer seeking to unite his will and the will of the nation with God’s will. God’s people tuned into him, listening for his direction.

In my freshman year at Concordia Preparatory School in New York, I can recall trying to tune my radio into WBAL in Baltimore, my home town. Under certain atmospheric conditions, I was successful. Often the static wasn’t too bad, and I could hear the familiar sounds of the way the king’s English was spoken at home. It was the sound of home, and it felt good.

Unfortunately, our lines of communication with the Almighty are often filled with static, and we hear God’s clear signal only infrequently. Static is sometimes produced when we have used the instrument of prayer sparingly. At other times, static comes when we are involved in an overtly sinful life. It is hard to pray in the middle of the act of sinning. Static is also caused by the busyness that fills every moment and leaves no time for prayer.

In the New Testament, prayer for Jesus was like breathing: a natural part of his life. It was a daily habit for him. He suggests that we approach the heavenly Father in prayer as earthly children approach their earthly fathers. We are to seek a oneness with God, to share a living union with him like that union which existed between the Father and the Son.

In his Tischreden (Table Talks), Martin Luther gives a beautiful example of the need for concentration in our prayer. "When Luther’s puppy happened to be at the table, he looked for a morsel from his master and watched with open mouth and motionless eyes (as Luther ate). Luther said, ‘Oh, if I could only pray the way this dog watches the meat! All his thoughts are concentrated on the piece of meat. Apart from that, he has no thought, wish or hope.’ " We are to keep in tune with prayer. This takes concentrated effort.