Entering into an Eternal Conversation
I sat in a room looking into the faces of hardened law enforcement professionals, many of whom had experienced some of the most difficult situations life has to offer. Internally struggling with life’s big questions – looking for answers to unanswerable questions. What does someone say in those moments? Nothing – These are the moments when words fail us, and we enter into the eternal conversation of prayer . Prayer for ourselves and one another. Tim Keller reminds us, “Prayer is awe, intimacy, struggle—yet the way to reality. There is nothing more important, or harder, or richer, or more life-altering. There is absolutely nothing so great as prayer.”
Prayer, at its core, represents a connection between finite beings like us and an eternal, infinite God. Through prayer, we can communicate intimately with our Creator, bring our deepest concerns before Him, find comfort amidst life’s trials, and align our hearts with His will.
In the busyness of life, it’s easy to rush through our prayers or even neglect time with God altogether. But reflecting on the eternal nature of prayer can reinvigorate our spiritual journeys. When we grasp that our prayers transcend time and reach the very throne room of heaven, prayer takes on new power and meaning.
Prayer as an Offering Before an Eternal God
The Bible often depicts prayers rising to God’s throne like incense. King David writes in Psalm 141:2, “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense.” In Revelation 8, angels take the prayers of the saints in golden vials and offer them up to God, mingled with incense. Just as the Israelites offered sacrifices and incense to God under the old covenant, our prayers rise like sweet-smelling offerings under the new covenant of grace.
God treasures these offerings from His children. Though an infinite, eternal God commands the cosmos, He invites us to bring all aspects of our lives to Him – our joys, sorrows, petitions, and praises. Adam Weber observes, “I am supernaturally strengthened by someone talking to God for me and about me. That’s powerful stuff.” Through Christ, we have an eternal invitation to boldly approach the throne and offer prayers of worship and petition for even the smallest daily concerns. Even greater still, Christ is praying for us (John 17). Robert Murray M’Cheyne wrote, “If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies, yet distance makes no difference; Christ is praying for me.”
God’s Attention to Tears and Cries
The Psalms assure us that God collects our tears in a bottle and records our cries in His book. Psalm 56:8 says, “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” God cherishes our earnest prayers so much that He records every tear and cry. Psalm 34:15 also promises, “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”
I cannot read such verses without remembering my own children. As a parent, nothing moves my heart more than my child’s tears and cries. Whether due to physical pain, heartache, or frustration, their tears sear into my mind. If I, as an imperfect human parent, am so attentive to my children’s tears, how much more does our perfect Heavenly Father care for our pain and prayers? We can take such unspeakable comfort in the truth that our deepest heart cries do not go unnoticed. Our eternal God treasures and records our tearful prayers – and when we cannot pray the Spirit prays for us (Rom 8).
Continuous Relationship Through Prayer
God’s eternal nature also allows for continuous fellowship with Him through prayer. Psalm 116:1-2 exclaims: “I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.” Isaiah 65:24 similarly promises, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Jesus instructs His followers in Matthew 6:6, “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Through constant prayer, we cultivate an intimate friendship with the eternal God who hears and responds.
Unlike imperfect human relationships that ebb and flow, God’s attentiveness never wavers. He invites us to communicate with Him continuously about everything – our needs, worries, desires, pains. Through prayers of thanksgiving and cries for help, we develop a lifelong relationship with the eternal Father who compassionately cares for His children.
God’s Eternal Perspective
Not only does God invite unceasing prayer, but His eternal nature enables Him to foresee our prayers before we utter them. Psalm 145:18 promises, “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” 1 Peter 3:12 echoes, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers.” God’s omnipresence and omniscience allow Him to respond even before we call.
This truth leaves me in awe. While we experience time chronologically, God exists outside of time. He works through our prayers to accomplish His eternal purposes far beyond what we can imagine. The apostle John glimpses this incredible reality in Revelation 5:8, where heavenly beings “fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.” Our earth-bound prayers mingle with heavenly praises before the throne of God. Their impact reverberates through eternity.
For instance, the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk cried out to God to revive Israel, but he died long before witnessing God’s answer. God fulfilled Habakkuk’s prayer only generations later by awakening spiritual renewal under Ezra and Nehemiah. Yet we know from God’s eternal perspective Habakkuk’s prayers held power and significance beyond his earthly life. Even prayers that appear unanswered or impossible from our limited view have an eternal impact according to God’s perfect timing and will.
The Enduring Impact of Eternal Prayer
Reflecting on the eternal nature of prayer permeates deeper meaning and empowerment of our conversations with God. When we pray, we are communing with the eternal Creator before time began. We add our voices to the symphony of praise resounding before the heavenly throne. We bring our tearful cries straight into the compassionate heart of the Father. And we rest confident that our prayers accomplish God’s purposes throughout eternity in ways we cannot yet comprehend.
May this view of prayer reignite our spiritual journeys. As Paul Miller observes, “What do I lose when I have a praying life? Control. Independence. What do I gain? Friendship with God. A quiet heart. The living work of God in the hearts of those I love…I move from being an orphan to a child of God.” Let us recapture this eternal perspective. When we grasp prayer as our intimate connection with the everlasting God, our lives and world are eternally changed.
Action Step:
Set aside a dedicated time each day for prayer, creating a sacred space to pour out your heart to God and engage in meaningful conversation. Reflect on the eternal nature of prayer and how your words, thoughts, and intentions transcend time, reaching the very heart of Heaven (Matt 6:6).
Josh Cehulik 