Simple Prayer
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full”. Matthew 6:5
This is a long read but I ran across this in my devotion time and thought it worthy to share. Too oft times we try to manufacture just the right prayer with just the right words as if to seek the approval of those listening on; yet when it comes down to what counts, it is merely the simple words coming from an honest heart. I think the simplicity of a child is key to a conversation with God who is not impressed by the eloquence of our speech.
So without further ado…
First of all with regard to words in vocal prayer. Doesn’t some part of your difficulty come from your desire to make a good prayer, one that will sound well? If you could be content to use ordinary language and just express the needs of your own soul and of those for whom you are praying, as they come to your mind, it seems to me you’d have the words you need.
For myself, I found it necessary, when I began to pray vocally and also to speak, to be willing to be extremely simple in my way of doing either. In prayer, for instance, to talk to God as though He and I were alone together, and I were telling Him in everyday language the things I wanted; and to ask for the same things over each time I prayed, if they were the things that came into my mind as my needs at the time. We must remember that there is no human being with whom we may be as free as with our Lord; and it is not beautiful prayers He wants but just for us to tell Him our needs.
If you only need one thing, ask for that, if two, ask for them, and then stop. Never try to make a prayer. Some of the most effectual prayers I have ever heard, have been just two or three sentences spoken in the utmost simplicity. I think a willingness to be simple and direct will help you. If not, then you must obey the will of God in this matter, and must be willing even to be a fool for His sake, if He requires it. Do not at any rate let the lack of words make you disobedient. If the Lord puts it into your heart to pray you must be willing to kneel and say what you can, and be humbled and mortified, if needs be. I expect your long disobedience lies at the root of your difficulty after all, and that a prompt and cheerful obedience now will bring the quickest deliverance.
But however this may be, my dear friend, still you must obey. You have given yourself to the Lord to be His completely, and there is no alternative now but obedience. I am sure the Lord has been trying for a long time to make you into an instrument for His own purposes, but up to now you have hindered Him. Now, all that is past, and if you are only totally pliable in His hands, He will, I am sure, soon restore the years the canker worm has eaten.
—To Priscilla Mounsey, June 29, 1874
[1]Smith, H. W., & Dieter, M. E. 1997. The Christian’s secret of a holy life : The unpublished personal writings of Hannah Whitall Smith . Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak Harbor
