Yesterday we saw that prayer is approaching God as our Father to talk to him. However, praying is more than just talking to (or at!) God. Prayer is part of an intimate experience of God that Jesus has opened up for us.The New Testament describes this experience as fellowship or participation with God. To have fellowship means to share with someone in something, or to share in their life. Through Jesus, we share in the life of God himself – the Father, the Son and the Spirit. As John says:…our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. (1 John 3:3b)Meditation on Scripture (God’s words) and prayer (our words) are the main ways in which we nourish and experience this intimate fellowship with God. They are ways of being with God and knowing him better. So as you meditate on Scripture, it should fuel a conversation where you are listening and responding to the God who really is present with you.Prayer is not like a phone call to a helpdesk operator. It is much more like God moving into your home and sharing life with you. Have a look at what Jesus told his disciples:“Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” (John 14:23)In this month of devotions, we will seek to grow in this fellowship with God through Scripture and prayer, both in focused ‘quiet times’ and throughout the day. We will explore the two main aspects of prayer: delighting in God and depending on God. Of course, your experience of God won’t always feel intimate – but again, that’s okay!For today, read and meditate on the following passage, focusing not just on the words or on what you’re doing, but focusing on your loving heavenly Father who is really present with you, interacting with you. Let your thoughts express themselves in words to him. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:5-7)Verses for further prayer: John 14:15-24