Prayer: Put Up and Shut Up

To whomever is listening:

It’s me again. It seems like life is tossin’ me a bunch of crap and I'd much prefer you toss me something better, like a well deserved break or even a nice cold one from time to time. Aside from my personal problems you know already know about the Browns are forcing me to lose hope, the Buckeyes defense failed to show up in the big game just like my ‘A game’ failed to show up on my last date and all this reading for school is making me go mad; not to mention, now that I’m 28 my knees seem to be cracking more and my hair is thinner (Just out of curiosity why didn’t you create man to have a flawless mane like Beckham?).  I digress, you know this is all starting to become pretty overwhelming…

Too often we pray as if The Big Guy is our own personal therapist who is on call 24 hours a day. We unload our problems and ramble on about what’s on our minds. We act as if we’re talking to Dr. Phil who will magically give us instant feedback on how to get our life put back together. Our prayers often become a wish list of good health for the ones who are hurting and all the ‘what if’s’ in our lives, but when it comes down to it how often do we pause in prayer and let the One who is always lending an open ear add it’s two cents worth?

The beauty about prayer is that it’s powerful and the amazing thing about God is that there is always someone listening, but like any healthy relationship there must always be two way communication. It’s impossible to hear anything when we’re making all the noise and unfortunately it’s too easy for us to forget that. Do you hear what I'm saying?

We are told in Scripture that as we pray we must find that ‘inner room’ and close the door and pray to God in private. Meaning, that we are to find that place where we can be away from friends, foes and fears and find that place in our hearts to cry out to him sincerely and in secret. When praying we don’t need to babble or use many words because our Father already knows what we need before we even think to ask him (Matt 6: 5-8).

If we can just remember to simply pray and then listen we are eventually destined for hope, for guidance and for so much more. Maybe not today or tomorrow or when we'd like it to be 'due' by, but eventually. On God's time. First we must conquer praying with simplicity and with devotion so we can avoid a rambling ‘woe is me’, Dear Abby prayer. Then as we find that simplicity and purpose we have to shut our trap and listen…probably the hardest part. But hey, remember the Big Guy already knows what we need before we ask so let’s just start listening.

Until next time…