A Real Simple Prayer

'Real simple prayer: all I need is a touch from You. No one else Lord, can do the things You do. Take the wrong in my life and make it right...' -Brian Courtney Wilson

"Lord, teach me how to pray." This is a real simple prayer that everyone should desire to pray. I pray this prayer often. I am not claiming to be an expert on prayer, but I have learned the hard way that in every situation it is so very important to seek God’s will. It is absolutely amazing at how much God cares for each of us. I am always intrigued by how much God wants to be involved in my life, how much interest He has in every little detail!

The word “immersed” seems to be the word of the season for me right now. To be immersed in the power of God. To be immersed in the Spirit of God. To be immersed in His perfect and holy will and way. To be immersed in His thoughts and the things on His heart. To be immersed in His Word.

If you would not ask the Lord God for His will concerning a penny, then chances are you might not seek His will concerning a thousand dollars. How often do you pray? What do you pray about? Do you think of God as a magical genie who will pop out upon your every command mysteriously granting your every wish, perhaps even up to three a day? Does God seem too complicated for meager humankind? Is He to you a God who is no longer interested in His creations? Or maybe you see God as this big guy with a long gray beard who is too grumpy to care about you. Are you dodging lighting bolts? Running from dark clouds overhead? Do you pray out of superstition? Do you feel too sinful to pray?

Prayer is designed to keep us connected with our maker and Creator: God the Father. Prayer enables us to have a relationship with Him. Of course, God knows what we need before we ask. God longs for a relationship with each of us, one on one. Jesus said that we should ask/pray anyway. (Matthew 7:7) The worst you can do is not pray since, Jesus has already paid the price making it easier for us to approach God’s throne. And believe me, His throne is filled with grace and mercy!

A great prayer to pray and the best model for learning how to pray is the Lord’s Prayer. The disciples asked Jesus: Lord, teach us how to pray. Jesus gave them the Lord’s prayer: (Matthew 6, NLT)

“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.”

King David in the Bible, was not only a king over all of Israel, but he was known for being a man after God’s own heart. He was quite the prayer warrior! Many of his prayers can be found in the book of Psalms. David prayed all the time, he even fasted and prayed throughout his reign over Israel. When he became aware of his sins, he repented from his heart and worked hard to live a life pleasing in God‘s eyes. Some of my favorite prayers by King David are found in Psalms 8, 27, 37, 51, 136 and 139. Some of my favorite prayers found in the book of Psalms that are not written by King David include: Psalm 42, 46, 73, 77, 90 and 91.

Some people may think it unnecessary to pray since God already knows everything about us. The truth is that prayer brings us closer to God, gives us nourishment for our souls and strengthens us for the day. Sometimes, it is the praying that increases our faith not the type of prayer. A real simple prayer can oftentimes be the best prayer you will ever pray.

Questions
Are you struggling with what to say to God? Does the thought of praying overwhelm you?

A Real Simple Prayer
Lord, as we learn to pray, teach us to pray with all of our hearts. Give us your heart, your vision, your wisdom in all things. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Read
Matthew 6, Psalm 51

Song in my Head
‘what if His people prayed? And those who bear his name would humbly seek His face and turn from their own ways?’ -casting crowns