Simple Prayers

Matthew 6:5-13 NKJV, “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
In this manner, therefore, pray:
      Our Father in heaven,
      Hallowed be Your name.
      Your kingdom come.
      Your will be done
      On earth as it is in heaven.
      Give us this day our daily bread.
      And forgive us our debts,
      As we forgive our debtors.
      And do not lead us into temptation,
      But deliver us from the evil one.
      For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Basically, Jesus instructed his followers to pray simple prayers. So many of us are intimidated by prayer. There are a ton of books on the subject. There are so many methods and theories. People truly desire to talk with God and to get answers from him. Yet, they do not pray, because they think they don't know how to properly.

I believe Jesus opened the door to all of us who might be intimidated by prayer by telling us to not worry about how long or how good our prayer sounds to others. He told us to enter a room alone, close the door and talk to God in simple sentences. Don't think your prayers will be answered because of your many words. Jesus later brought a young child in and explained that unless we become like a young child we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom is for simple people like you and me.

Very simply we can ask our loving heavenly Father to meet our daily needs, after we have yielded ourselves completely to his will and to his ways. We can ask forgiveness and strength to overcome temptation. In all things we can give him thanks and praise.

I encourage you to try praying more simple and basic prayers.

Peace,

SS