DAY 4 - HOW NOT TO PRAY - Pt. 2

Matthew 6:7-8 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

My youngest son, Elijah (22 months old), is now at the point in his speech development where he is starting to string words together. These cute little sentences are hard to make out at times. I often wonder how my wife is able to discern what he is speaking. At times, if either one of us doesn't understand what he is saying or asking right away, he gets a little upset or can tend to talk louder. I think this is his attempt to be understood and heard.

Do you ever feel like a little kid when you speak to God? Each of us have wondered at times if He actually heard us? Do you ever pray louder so He can hear you better? Have you ever had those times while praying when you think you need to say more or even use elegant words? How many times have you found yourself praying in "King James" language? When thou prayeth in King James, thee beginist to useth words that doth not maketh much senseth. Some of my favorite prayers are the ones where you add an "ah" after the name Jesus-ah or God-ah or when extra syllables are added to words so they sound more Evangelical! You know what I am talking about...

Here is the point: Don't babble when you pray. Don't go on and on and on. In fact, you don't have to even yell at God. Jesus refers to that kind of prayer as paganistic. The wonderful thing is this...it's His promise to us: He already knows what you need before you ask Him! That overwhelms me with a sense of peace and adequacy! We can do this...

APPLICATION TO MY LIFE
1. Do you know how to pray? Are you learning?
2. Have you ever felt inadequate when you pray?
3. Does knowing that God knows what you need before you even ask it bring you comfort? Why?
4. Are you released from burden of praying to elegantly or extravagantly?