I used to think praying was about the most boring thing you could do.  Stop everything, close your eyes, and wait while someone says obvious things in ornate, religious language.  When it’s over, then you can go do what you would really like to be doing.  Truth is, sometimes I still feel that way. 

But, what if…   what if…   Think of someone – anyone of your own choosing – with whom you’d give your eye teeth for a chance to sit down and have an informal conversation.  What if you told someone of that desire, and he said, “Oh, I know that guy; I’m going up to his house this afternoon for a get together.  Wanna come?” 

One day, Jesus said something like that to three of His disciples:

Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.  (Luke 9:28)

If someone asked you, “Hey, I’m going to go pray; wanna come?”  you might not be enthusiastic.  But what if Jesus said, “Hey, I’m going up to have a chat with My Father; wanna come?”  That could be pretty exciting.  And in fact, when those three went up the mountain with Jesus, they absolutely had their minds blown by what happened.  (Keep reading Luke 9:29 and following for the details)

One of the things Jesus purchased for us on the cross was the opportunity to go on up to His Father’s house for an informal chat.  At any time, even when we feel we would be least welcome.  Jesus invites us personally to go with Him and:

“… with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. ” (Hebrews 4:16b)

Prayer, seen in that light, is anything but boring.