When you think of God, what comes to mind? If you’re like most people today, it’s an image of an old man with a long, white beard, possibly sitting on a cloud, maybe holding a harp, floating around wistfully amongst the angels.

This is the image only serves to make God seem distant, even ungrounded in reality. Even to the long-time Christian, this perception can pervade our subconscious, where it can do more harm than good. This becomes a real problem when we pray. Our prayers can seem futile when they have the distance of Earth and Heaven to cross, and at our low points we ask ourselves, how could a God so far removed from this world possibly understand our needs?

But this isn’t how God wants it. It’s time for a shift in our minds: from praying to a God far away in Heaven and hoping He’ll turn a sympathetic ear, to a God that’s very near--even in same room with us

In Matthew, Jesus had this to say: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. (18:20)” God Himself gave Jesus the name “Immanuel, God with us.” God never wanted to seem aloof or far away. In fact, He made it clear that if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us (James 4:8).

This imagery is in stark contrast with how the world perceives God, and it can make all the difference in your prayer life. So the next time you speak to God, turn your focus from the Old Man in the Sky, and to the God who is our Friend and Brother. Speak to Him just as you would a friend in the same room with you. You’ll be surprised what a difference it can make.