Prayer can seem hard when we allow our brains to take over for our hearts. Here’s why simple prayers from the heart work…
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)
Prayer can be inexplicably hard. You wouldn’t think so. You’d think that the simple act of speaking to an all-knowing God, who already sees into our hearts would be easy.
But I often find myself struggling with prayer. I’m not sure what to say, or whether I’ve said enough. I wonder if I spoke well, or should I try to emulate those glossy speeches that I’ve heard others come out with.
Not me. Mine tend to be stream of thought, with some repetition, followed by explanations and equivocations. It’s as though I am writing a rough draft and editing as I go. Which is rather ridiculous when you think about it. What’s the point of prettying up my prayer when God is listening to every draft, from the roughest to the final?
The Art of Simple Prayers
Matthew 6:7 says, “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”
Prayer doesn’t have to be a grand speech or full of pretty words, although it can be. The psalms are proof that we can pray beautiful prayers.
But sometimes, they’re just messy. Sometimes, our prayers come out disjointed and full of the emotions that are gripping us. And I like to think that God loves those just as much as the well-worded ones. Maybe more so.
God loves our hearts. And whether we’re wordsmiths who can craft a beautiful prayer for an entire church to hear, or broken individuals who stumble in the dark, reaching out for His reassuring hand, God loves us all.
Simple prayers and honest thoughts and emotions—this is what God loves to hear. Rehearsing prayers to make them sound better is my way of letting my brain take over for my heart, which isn’t what God wants me to do.
Prayer is only hard if we make it hard. Simple prayer works because it limits our control and manipulation of words, and instead places our hearts front and center, where they need to be. Where He wants them to be.
This week, I challenge you to pray simply and honestly. Don’t worry about the final draft—just give God your honest words and meditations. No edits. And you, like me, may see how well simple prayer works.
Have a blessed Monday!
Book recommendation on the subject of simple prayer: Before Amen by Max Lucado
Looking for more encouragement and inspiration today? Try these posts:
Be Still for the Lord So Things Can Happen
Do You Trust God to Provide for You?
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I agree sometimes we make prayer harder than they have to be. Prayer is just talking to our Daddy God, that’s it. No fancy words, no elaborate speeches, just opening our heart and make time to talk to the One that loves us the most. Great Post.
Thank you, Carolina, and you’re absolutely right. He doesn’t need speeches when all he wants is our hearts. Thanks for reading my blog and God bless!
This was so honest and uplifting. You describe it well how our prayer life can be and have inspired me to think less about wordsmithing my words and instead, to just be open and vulnerable with God.
Thank you, Gretchen! I’m so glad you were inspired and I hope we all enjoy a more simple and satisfying prayer life, without the pretty words 🙂 God bless and thanks for reading!
Yes!! I just wrote about taking my raw and honest emotion to the Lord, laying it all, laying me at His feet. Simply talk with him, simply pause with Him. I think the more we pray simply from our heart the more we learn to run to Jesus first when things happen. Seeking His sweet peace, as peace seems to wash over me when I pray.
I love how you said this! Laying ourselves out there for God. Perfect. Thanks for reading and God bless!
Yes! I like to say an imperfect but heartfelt prayer is better than no prayer at all. Sometimes our prayerlessness comes from procrastination because we don’t think we have the time or energy or ability to “do it right”. That’s a lie from the enemy of our souls. Intimate communion with Christ comes through our imperfect honest prayers – pouring out our hearts and coming before Him by the costly grace He’s freely given – not by our “good works” or attempts at eloquence.
I completely agree. I know I’ve put off prayer until I could “say it better.” But God doesn’t care about that, He just wants us to reach out to Him. Thank you for your thoughts and for reading. God bless!