I'm a big fan of Russell Westbrook. I could name all these stats about him and tell you all these random things about him. Like the fact that he's averaging a triple-double right now, how he didn't get voted into being a starter in the All-Star Game (side note: not too thrilled about that), how he went to UCLA for college, etc. I know ABOUT Russell Westbrook. I don't know him personally. He's not asking me to make lunch plans this week. I won't be hanging out with him anytime soon. I don't know Russell Westbrook and I probably never will, but I know his Creator. As cool as it would be to be friends with the best point guard in the NBA (that's right I said it), just think about how we get direct access to the One who made the heavens and the earth and we get to know Him. Better yet, He wants to know you as well.

I'm no relationship expert but I've heard that communication is key. How can you know someone in any sort of relationship if you don't ever talk to them? That's like all my junior high relationships. I would sit on one side of the cafeteria and my "girlfriend" would sit on the other side and we wouldn't talk but we were "dating". That's not how relationships work. You have to communicate. With that being said, how's your communication with God? Are you like my junior high relationships and only talking when needed or are you walking daily with Him and talking all the time?

Let's talk about this for a second. I'm a very simple-minded person. I like to break things down to their key components. Prayer is essentially talking to God. Casting your cares on Him, confessing your sin to Him, and interceding on behalf of others to Him. WE GET TO TALK TO THE MOST POWERFUL BEING THAT HAS EVER AND WILL EVER EXIST. And yet we reserve talking to Him around mealtimes and when we run into trouble. How audacious and conceited of us to think that we can handle life without the One who created it. How despicable of us to think that God can only handle the big things and not the little things as well.

If we're honest, I'm guilty of this as well. For the longest time, I thought I could handle everything on my own and do things myself. I didn't understand the importance of prayer until I hit a rock bottom I didn't know existed. I had no other option but to pray. Don't wait until you hit rock bottom to start praying. Daniel didn't start praying in the lion's den. He had a regular meeting time with God so that when he did go through trials and situations that were uncomfortable, he knew where to go; God.

My prayer is that we would recognize Who it is we pray to, The Creator of everything. I pray that we would remember the fact that prayer is incredible. If we truly believe that prayer can change things, isn't it time to start praying like it? Better yet, are we praying with the expectation that God will answer? If you pray for rain, you better pack your umbrella because God answers prayers. May we be a people of prayer and a people found on our knees crying out for the world. Much love and God bless.