How to Have a Conversation with God - Modeling Prayer in Genesis 2 and 3

If prayer is having a conversation with God, it would be instructive to look at how the first conversations with God took place.

Conversation Starter

The first time God speaks to a human is in Genesis 2:16-17: "And the Lord God commanded the man, 'You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.'”

Is this the first thing God said to Adam? Maybe not, but it is the first thing recorded for us in Scripture, so let's start here. Notice that the first one to speak is not the man, but God. God delivers His command, and the man's responsibility is simply to listen and understand.

How do your conversations with God start? 

Perhaps your prayer time could start by reading Scripture, or some other devotional reading, or listening to Christian teaching or Christian music. These are all great ways to listen to God as we prepare to enter our prayer time. But besides these preparations, I would encourage you to practice silence before God as you begin the conversation. Ask Him, "Lord, is there anything you want to say to me today? What do you want to tell me?" Open your spirit to His Spirit , and like God delivering His command to Adam in their opening Scriptural conversation, you will be surprised at how clearly He will speak when you ask Him to.

Timing

The second conversation Scripture records between God and man occurs in Genesis chapter 3, after Adam and Eve have eaten the forbidden fruit. We don't know how much time passed between the deed and the confrontation, but we do know that God came to talk with them "in the cool of the day" (Genesis 3:8).

 Now, this evening visitation might not have been the only time God met with the couple throughout the day, but because it is recorded as having taken place at this specific time, because God didn't rush down to confront them about their sin as soon as it happened but gave them time to sew fig leaf garments to cover their nakedness, we can reason that this was a standing appointment between God and the man and woman. The "cool of the day" was when God regularly came to speak with them.

Do you have a regular time each day to meet with and talk with God? We can certainly talk to God whenever and wherever we are, but if we are to follow Scripture's example, there seems to be some value in having a daily, regular schedule for the practice of prayer. It might be in the morning, at lunch, or in "the cool of the day," but it should be a set time for you to listen and speak to Him.

What to Say, and How to Say It

This second conversation continues with God questioning the man and woman about their sin. It takes a little probing, a little cutting through denial and blame-casting, but God calmly elicits the truth from them and delivers His just judgment.

When we approach God, we must never forget who we are talking to. He is the King, the Judge, the Holy One who has the right to command and punish. He is worthy of all respect when we speak to Him, and one way to show respect for who God is to acknowledge and confess the ways we have failed to keep His commands that day.

Does your prayer time include a time of confession? Many times, God Himself will bring up areas in your life during that silent time at the beginning of the conversation. Sometimes, you will need to reflect on your day or the previous day, searching for those things you need to confess. 

Be open with God and take time to understand the implications of your sin. How did it affect your relationship with Him? How did it affect you personally? How did it affect other people?

If we want to grow in our prayer lives, it will start with regular prayer, listening for God's leading, and personal repentance through confession to Him.