So I'm reading this book, but it's a slow process. This week the man in question is learning how to pray: should it be standing, sitting, lying prone...? And how do you strike up a conversation with someone you're not even sure exists? The psychological theory of cognitive dissonance roughly says if you behave as if you believe something, eventually you will believe in it: fake it until you make it. In the Old Testament God told His people He heard their prayers, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14. In the new testament, Matthew 6:5, Jesus (God's son, in case you forgot) tells us how to pray, "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Our heavenly Father, who created all things and is apparent by what He has created rather than by our limited sense of sight, who controls the sun, the moon, and the ocean tides, hears me when I speak to Him the same way He hears you. He doesn't want us to make a big production out of the relationship we have with Him because He knows too well how how arrogant we can become when given a little power (see also: Abraham, David, Solomon, etc). He wants my relationship with Him to be personal. He wants your relationship with Him to be unique. He wants the rewards and blessings He bestows on us to be for the greater good, not to hold it over someone else about how much more He loves one than another by the size of the blessing. What an awesome God we serve, that not only does He hear me, but He listens. Even when I don't get what I want, I know that I am blessed beyond anything this world offers; after all, I know the One who made the world knows me and loves me personally. He knows you too. He also knows and loves the man in the book who, sadly, doesn't know Him. 6 billion people on the earth and roughly 70% of the people God loves don't even claim to know Him, much less have a relationship with Him. God knows and loves you; do you know Him?