When you pray, don’t babble on and
on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by
repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what
you need even before you ask him!
Matthew 6:7-8
People who know me say that sometimes
I talk with myself. Often it is in
response to something that I did not do as well as I should (Gee Kent. That was brilliant), and other times it is
for self-motivation (Come on, Kent!). Someone
told me after a workout session at the gym that they enjoyed hearing me talk
out loud because it actually motivated them.
People at work would say that they enjoy hearing me speak noting that I
have ‘the gift of gab’ you could say. I’m
always humbled to hear that because I was pretty introverted growing up (maybe
closet extrovert closer to the truth J).
Lately, I have been challenged to be more prayerful both openly and
behind closed doors. This is not to say
that I do not have conversations with God.
In fact, that’s where I’m good.
Yet, what I am referring to is the heart wrenching, totally vulnerable,
completely transparent talk with the awesome, Alpha and Omega, all knowing one
true living God.
Prayer life is more than just the
Lord’s Prayer. It’s a habit of
confessing struggles, thankfulness, failures, and hopes. It is a total unveiling of those things that
you love and those things you struggle with.
It should mirror your life as a Christian; evolving, ever growing,
painful, and filled with joy. A little
advise to those of you who feel like you do not know what to say to God. Don’t get caught up in the order and what are
the right things to tell him. Today’s
verse is not meant to discourage. It’s
to encourage that you might not have it all right today, but with each day, you
will get better. My father use to be a
man that could pray on anything, and I would marvel the words he would use
never ever thinking I could hope to sound like him. Then one day, I sounded just like he did as
the Holy Spirit began to take my words and turn them into His. Trust God that as today’s verses state, He
knows what you need even before you ask, and your goal is to just reach out to
Him with an open mind, heart, and spirit.
Prayer changes things. These are not just idle words to convince one
of what God can do. They are a reminder
that you cannot expect change without putting in the work. Do not focus on where you are in your prayer
life. Focus on the relationship you have
with God and your willingness to open up to Him. Then and only then will you see God truly
work within your prayer life and everything else. How is your prayer life? If yours is good, how can you make it more
heart felt and intentional. My prayer is
that no matter where our prayer life is, we learn to better have a talk with
God. Amen.