Have you ever been in a small group or meeting where you had to pray in front of other people? It can be stressful.
Sometimes we think a “good prayer” has to be complicated and flowery. In fact, sometimes I feel that way when it’s just me and God alone.
I love crafting words in written prayer, using language to worship Him.
I feel joy in the poetry of prayer and the creativity of calling out to Him in verse. But creativity is not the measure of prayer. If used without examining our hearts, it can actually become the measure of our resistance to real communion with God.
The truth is, God doesn’t need complicated prayers; He’d much rather have prayers of sincerity. You don’t need to have a history degree, been to Shakespeare workshops, or have attended seminary to have your prayers heard by God.
Consider the words of Charles Spurgeon who said,
“…True prayer is measured by weight, not length. A single groan before God may have more fullness of prayer in it than a fine oration of great length.”
The Psalms are filled with prayers of anguish and emotion—conversations with God that overflow from a trust that God truly wants to meet with His child in prayer.
While there should always be a sense of reverence for God’s holiness in our hearts, we should approach our Father with the sincerity of a small child sharing their hurts and passions with a loving parent or treasured friend.
God cares more about your heart than what’s in your head. It’s better to struggle through an inelegant, honest prayer in true relationship with Jesus than to be intimidated by crafting the “perfect prayer,” never seeking Him at all.
Your prayers do not have to be long, they have to be real.
It is, in fact, an honest, vulnerable heart that allows us to hear God’s voice. It is the only prerequisite for experiencing an encounter with Christ.
Join me in this simple prayer:
Oh Lord,
I’m so grateful I can be honest with you—that I don’t have to wear a mask in front of You. There are days that I don’t know what to say. There are days when everything seems jumbled inside my head, so I ask you to see my heart. Hear the prayer in my spirit and show me what You want me to know about You, about my circumstance, and about myself.
Amen
Continue that prayer with what’s on your heart. Tell God your joys and your struggles.
Learn to be transparent with God, and see how He will speak to you in a new and tender way.
How do you best connect with God in a sincere way?
We’d love to hear your experience in the comment section below.
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I have a hard time with conventional prayers ..but talking to God helps me to listen also and reminds me that He is all I need
We don’t need to pray perfectly, just sincerely. Thanks for your comment, Jackie.
I’ve been thinking/writing about this same topic lately: the simplicity/brevity of Jesus’ spoken prayers in the gospel. It was great to read “God cares more about your heart than what’s in your head.” Thanks for sharing!
I would love to read your thoughts on the subject when you post them. Thank you.
I love talking to God when I go for my morning walk. Surrounded by God’s beautiful world makes it easy for me to praise Him as Creator and as the amazing God that He is! But, I am so glad He accepts my sincere, simple prayers, because I never seem to have the adequate words to describe how beautiful I think His creations are!
That is beautifully stated, Julie! Thank you so much.
It doesn’t have to be complicated, does it Josh? Great thoughts. Thanks. Miss you guys!
Thank you, Dee.
Great insights on prayer, and the heart of our Father! I play piano at a local Lutheran church sometimes. Here’s what I learned from them about keeping prayer simple. “Lord, meet the needs of those who are suffering and mourning…” and then they name each person who’s asked for prayer, nothing more. It makes perfect sense. God already knows the person, the situation and their needs. It doesn’t need to be any more complicated than that!
Thanks for sharing this story, Michelle. I appreciate your comment.
Prayer, an ongoing all-day conversation. Sometimes out loud.
Amen to that, Nancy!
“Your prayers do not have to be long, they have to be real.” I love this! Great words of encouragement and truth.
Thank you so much.
I love that too. Real prayers. I feel like I should write that on my bathroom mirror as a reminder.
I love that prayer is simple—just talking to God. I appreciate that you shared this!
Thank you so much, Heather. I’m so grateful for your encouraging words.