Think about the times when you are able to sit down with one of your closest friends and talk in an undistracted way. Where do your conversations go? After starting with surface-level talk, the conversation often moves to a deeper level. You start to talk about what is really going on: your hopes, joys, fears and heartaches. This type of conversation fosters a deeper connection and a more intimate friendship. Dan Allender describes how God desires to have the same kind of conversations with us.

How do the Psalms guide us with a path of how to pray? Psalms are prayers in the form of poetry and song. Most were written by David, one of the first kings of Israel and “a man after God’s own heart.” Yet many of the Psalms do not express unwavering faith and praise. Many of them contain David’s distress, hopelessness and even anger. David brought his whole heart to God. Throughout the Psalms, God continually brought David back to His truth. As you pray, remember David’s example and see what God does in your life as you have heart-to-heart conversations with Him.