Who You Talkin To?

Ya ever listen to someone praying and wonder who they’re talking to?

Yeah, me neither.

OK, that’s not true. I do. Frequently.

There’s the 1611 Prayer, “Almighty God, we beseech thee…”

Makes me wonder, who you talkin to? The God who really loves Shakespeare?

Then there’s the God’s Name Filler Prayer, “Father God, Jehovah, we pray today Lord God, that you Father, Jesus, would…”

Makes me wonder, who you talkin to? The God who frequently forgets who he is?

Here’s my personal favorite – the Announcement Prayer: “Lord, help us all remember to come back for the evening service which starts at 6pm, followed by the annual women’s ministry pie auction…”

I’m pretty sure that prayer was directed towards people who were considering staying home on Sunday night.

Some prayers make me think the God they’re talking to (reluctant, angry, distant, terribly busy, hard of hearing)isn’t the same God I’ve been talking to…

I think grace changes how we pray.

Grace reminds us that God loves us, accepts us and desires relationship with us.

Because of grace, we don’t “say our prayers” – we talk with our Father.

Jesus, while teaching on prayer, said: “When you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production…

Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God.

Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant… full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense.

This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need.

With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply.” (Matthew 6.5-8 MSG)

Talk with your Father.

With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply… to Him!

No show. No special voice. No formula necessary.

Relaxed and real.

Talkin with our Daddy.