Man of Few Words

This has never been said of me.  I have always been told that I talk too much.  My teachers in school would always put an "NI" next to the conduct box for talkative.  My parents would tell me that I just like to hear my own voice.  I love to talk.  But when it comes to prayer, we need, especially me, to take a different approach.

"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God.  Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage.  The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.  The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant.  They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God.  Don't fall for that nonsense.  This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better that you what you need.  With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply." Matthew 6.6-13 (MSG)

Keep it secret and simple.  I've been in churches when some has gotten up to pray and they put on this prayer voice and start using words that I don't hear in everyday speech like Thee, Thou, bountiful, beseech, etc.  What the heck is that?  Do they talk like that normally?  I seriously doubt that.  Many times they put on their special voice because other people are listening.  They do it for those who are within ear shot.

This is what Jesus is talking about in this passage.  To be effective in your prayers we need to be praying in secret and simply.  We don't need to repeat the same words or speak certain phrases over and over again expecting that through repetition that God will answer our prayers.

We need to practice the KISS principle when it comes to prayer: Keep It Secret and Simple.  This will help our heart to focus on our God.  It will help to move our heart away from ourselves and put our desires where they need to be.  The focus of our prayers should be God and His Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

Let's close this week and study on prayer with an excerpt from St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer.  This will help us to remember who prayer is about.

Christ be with me, Chris in the front, Christ in the rear, Christ within me, Christ below me, Christ above me, Christ at my right hand, Christ at my left, Christ in the fort, Christ in the chariot seat, Christ at the helm, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.