We just finished a sermon series on prayer “Conversations With God”. One of our congregants asked me on Facebook to “Help! My prayers are terrible. I want to pray better.” It got me thinking. Over the years, my prayers have taken me to mountaintops to experience the Holy Spirit, to valleys where I saw things I didn’t want to see. I have pleaded with God, yelled at God, mumbled a seemingly insignificant prayer, and just waited in silence when nothing came to mind. When this cry for help came, I wanted to evaluate my prayers. I was stopped cold. Really? Does God grade my prayers? I don’t think so --- not at all. If I am talking to Him and being honest, He absolutely loves the time I am taking to converse. I know, because the sessions usually end in peace, not necessarily resolution, but peace --- beyond my understanding.
So back to the call for help. Who doesn’t like the prayer? Someone who is not comfortable praying aloud always feels inadequate. I have had the weird experience of being so nervous that I really didn’t remember what I said and thought I was just rambling, only to find out “how did you know to pray that? It was exactly what I needed!” Once, when I was starting a new ministry, my two new pastors came to the meeting! Always opening in prayer, my hands got sweaty and my voice got nervous, and my heart was pounding to the point I thought people might see it. I learned a very important lesson that day. My pastors were “professional pray-ers” (in my mind), but my conversation with God was private. I took time to stop, be quiet, and then speak my hopes and dreams for this ministry and the people in the room. It didn’t matter what anyone thought except One, and God has promised to listen. I think He was proud of me that day. I would love to say “practice makes perfect” but that hasn’t been true for me. Many years later, I still wish my prayers were better; but they are just right for who I am at this point on my journey, with the people who are walking with me. And yours are too.
Helen
5"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. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But 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. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6 (NIV)
Go to the prayer section of the website and use some of the tools/models there to help develop your prayers,
www.xpointumc.org
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