• Sometimes we wait until problems and circumstances overwhelm us before we pray to Father God who is standing by to help.
• Sometimes we wait to pray until we feel we have the “right words” to say to Him.
• Sometimes we wait until our bitterness becomes less predominant in our thoughts before we pray.
• Sometimes we wait until we feel better about ourselves before we pray.
• Sometimes we wait until our angry subsides over being wronged before we pray.
• Sometimes we wait until we can be honest about our sins before we pray—as if God didn’t know.
• And sometimes we pray out loud, in public, at church, and don’t mean a word we say.

I have learned to pray no matter what, on all occasions, because it is God who is waiting on us to talk with Him simply and humbly so He can tell us how problems can be solved, how life can be better by making us better with renewed minds, cleansed hearts, refreshed souls with restored joy that is eternal.  The words don’t matter as much as the heart does.  Jesus said…

Matthew 6:5-18, The Message

Pray with Simplicity

⁵ “And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for fifteen minutes of fame! Do you think God sits in a box seat?

⁶ “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.

^7-13 “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 than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best—
    as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
    Yes. Yes. Yes.

^14-15 “In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.

^16-18 “When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don’t make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won’t make you a saint. If you ‘go into training’ inwardly, act normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face. God doesn’t require attention-getting devices. He won’t overlook what you are doing; he’ll reward you well.

Lord,

Hallowed is Your Name.  Great are you, Lord.  May Your Kingdom come and dwell in my thoughts.  May Your Will be done in every detail of my life today.  Give us this day a time to rejoice and a time to reflect on who we really need—You.  Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who hurt and offend us.  Lead us not into temptations to take care of matters on our own, to fight back, or to get even but deliver us from evil and evil’s schemes to distract and destroy us.  Nothing is too hard for you.  We can do nothing of significance without you.  Come, Lord Jesus, and abide in us as we abide in you.  To you be all the glory, honor, and praise forever and ever, Amen!

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen