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.

A Short Prayer of Sincerity | What God wants in a Prayer | #Prayer #ChristianLife Click To Tweet

© Joshua J Masters and Kingdom Knight Productions. (see full conditions of use).

 

Joshua J. Masters is a pastor, author, and missionary with a heart for leading through encouragement and relationship building. His latest book series, Experiencing the Word, releases a new workbook each month as Joshua leads through a year of meditating on the Bible.

A self-proclaimed sci-fi and comic book geek, Josh loves film, art, pop culture, and all things creative (SAG/AFTRA member). Joshua was raised in New England and is now based in South Carolina where he serves as the Executive Director and a missionary for Bridge Builders International. 

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Although Josh is honored to be on staff at Brookwood Church, everything on this site is his personal opinion and is not read or approved before it is posted. Opinions, conclusions and other information expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of Brookwood Church.

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