Happy Thanksgiving to our U.S. readers
There was a man in the church where I grew up who prayed the most eloquent prayers I have ever heard. He would often pray during the service and when he did, I heard others talk about how beautiful his prayer was. He just had a way with words.
On the other end of the spectrum, I have come before God while I have been in places so dark and confusing that I could barely speak. The most I could utter was, “Help me. I need you, Lord.”
I’ve known many believers, both young and old, who don’t like praying out loud in a group because they don’t feel like they have the right words to say. But if we can get past the words and just share our heart, then we begin to open ourselves up to each other and align our wills with the heart of God.
Jesus taught that it is not the eloquence of speech that God desires when we come to Him in our need. In fact, the only ones who are impressed are other people. He doesn’t delight in fancy words. He delights in a heart that comes humbly to Him.
Even when we have no words, whether from joy or pain, the Spirit, who lives in us, knows our needs and prays for us (Romans 8:26). The Father knows what we need before we even ask. We only need to call out to Him.
Lord, I am thankful that you know me so well. Be near to me. Thank you for hearing what’s in my heart even if my words are few. Amen.
Go Deeper — To get an insight into prayer, read the Psalms. Many are prayers from King David and others who were intimate enough with the Father to really express their feelings.
Read Further — Here are some simple prayers you can pray if you feel tongue-tied.
Photo Credit: Boris Baldinger