HoHum:
I step into an elevator on the ground floor. One other person- much taller than me- stands against the back wall. I turn as the elevator door closes and find my floor number on the elevator control panel. I hear a voice behind me- friendly but in a language I don’t understand. I turn, smile, and shrug. I don’t want to be rude but now I am feeling uncomfortable. The other passenger speaks again. I feel myself blushing. I turn. “I’m sorry, I don’t speak your language,” I say. Suddenly the ride to my floor seems unbearable long. My hear beats faster. My palms start to sweat. I watch the floor numbers above the door light up, one after the other. When the doors finally open to my floor, I dash out like a human cannonball.
WBTU:
That is something like how prayer feels to some people. Like entering a strange room. Meeting someone new. Being expected to use an unfamiliar language. It can be daunting. Even frightening. Even if I already know the person in the room, so to speak- I have a relationship with God- He can seem intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be this way. It doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated. The red letter prayer life is one that is characterized by simple prayer.
Read Matthew 6:7-8. We make prayer too complicated. We assume that prayer requires knowledge and expertise, eloquence and education. Jesus tells us to keep it simple. Jesus distinguished the showy prayers of some devout Jews from the private prayer habit (talked about this last time) He urged on His disciples. He also contrasted the incantations (vain repetition- KJV) may Gentiles used to get some god or goddess to grant their wishes with the simple prayer that should characterize his followers. He said, in effect, “You don’t have to get God’s attention. You don’t have to wake him up. You don’t have to use the right words. You don’t have to get fancy. You don’t have to beat your breast or dance a jig.”
KISS- Why? Because your Father knows what we need before we ask him. We need to ask but the simplest requests are the best. According to Jesus, that fact is fundamental of the red letter prayer life. This ought to form the basis of why and how we pray.
Thesis: Pray simply starting with Matthew 6:7-8
For instances:
A. Let Go of the Need to “Get it Right”
Since our Father knows what we need before we ask him, we don’t need to get things just so before we pray. We don’t need to clean up our act (pray helps us to clean up our act). We don’t need to straighten our tie (as if our clothing means that much). We don’t need to think things through. Our Father already knows us and everything about us, including exactly where we are, what we are wearing and what we need. Richard Foster wrote: “There are a number of “somethings” preventing us from praying. But right now we need to discuss a “something” that needs our immediate attention. It is the notion- especially among modern high achievers- that we have to have everything “just right” in order to pray. That is, before we can really pray, our lives need some fine tuning, or we need to know more about how to pray, or we need to study the philosophical questions surrounding prayer, or we need to have a better grasp of the great traditions of prayer. And on it goes. It isn’t that these are wrong concerns or that there is never a time to consider these matters. But we are starting from the wrong end of things- putting the cart before the horse. Our problem is that we assume prayer is something to master the way we master algebra or auto mechanics. That puts us in the “on-top” position, where we are competent and in control. But when praying, we come “underneath,” where we calmly and deliberately surrender control and become incompetent.” Become incompetent- what does that mean? Maybe Brother Lawrence, from his classic, the Practice of the Presence of God, will help us: “For many years I was bothered by the thought that I was a failure at prayer. Then one day I realized I would always be a failure at prayer; and I’ve gotten along much better ever since.” Jean Nicholas Grou, 18th century author of “How to Pray,” wrote: “There is no Christian who is not in the same case as the disciples. Every Christian ought to say as humbly as they: ‘Lord, teach us to pray (Luke 11:1).’ Ah! If we were only convinced of our ignorance and of our need of a Teacher like Jesus Christ!” The second step in the Red Letter Prayer Life is: Don’t worry about getting it right. Our Father knows what we need before we even ask him, so relax.
B. Let Go of the Need to Inform or Impress God
Last time when talking about private prayer, we talked about public prayer where someone is trying to impress others. This is a little different; when alone with God we are trying to impress Him. Our Father knows what we need before we ask him- He certainly knows who we really are. We are not going to impress Him with our eloquence, education or righteousness.
In Jesus’ day the Pharisees were among the most highly respected of the people because the their devotion to the law of God. The tax collectors were among the most despised because they were helping the Romans and taking exorbitant amounts of money from the people. Jesus, in this parable, cast these characters in a whole new light. Read Luke 18:10-14
The Pharisee basically prayed, “God, I thank you that I’m so great! He listed the sins he didn’t commit (such as robbery, evildoing, adultery) while clearly remaining oblivious to those he did commit (such as pride and self righteousness). He apparently thought it was necessary to inform God of the facts and impress God with his virtues (I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get). On the other hand, the tax collector in Jesus’ story uttered just one word for every five the Pharisee spoke (in the Greek, that is). He simply admitted his need and asked God for mercy. Our Father knows what we need before we ask, so we don’t need to inform or impress Him. We don’t have to fill in any blanks for Him, and we don’t have to use fancy words or a ministerial tone. He knows us. He knows our faults. He knows our need. So pray simply.
C. Let Go of the Need to Beg
Remember the showdown on Mount Carmel between the prophet Elijah (great master of prayer) and the prophets of Baal. Elijah challenged them to a dual, Read 1 Kings 18:23-24.
So the prophets of Baal went first. They erected an altar, made their sacrifice, and began to pray: Read 1 Kings 18:26-29. This scene may have been part of what Jesus had in mind when he said, “Do not keep on babbling like pagan,… heard for many words.” It is like the prayers of some people today who employ various techniques or tactics intended to get God’s attention, break down God’s resistance, or even twist God’s arm into answering prayers a certain way. Jesus said our Father knows what we need before we even ask. Hyped up theatrics aren’t necessary. Simple, believing prayer is all it takes, as Elijah’s actions and words on Mount Carmel illustrate: Read 1 Kings 18:30-39. Elijah’s prayer was bold but simple. He didn’t beg or shout or sermonize. He made a straightforward request, based on his faith in God and the guidance God had already given him. And God answered.
Nothing to say that passion, even desperation, is wrong in prayer. But passion and desperation are different from begging. Desperation flows from a deep need or strong desire. Passion flows from a heart of faith, a sincere faith based on God’s willingness and readiness to answer prayer and give good things to His children (must become a child of God- adopted into family). Begging is from a heart that isn’t sure God will- or even wants to- answer prayer. Our Father already knows what we need before we even ask, so we don’t need to restore to theatrics or self harm. Like Elijah, we can ask boldly but simply.
D. Simply pray simply
Love to have children pray- give prayers of children (illustration)
Jesus depicted prayer as something like a child approaching a loving parent. Our words may be primitive. Our prayers may be simple, even painfully so. But God delights in his children. Richard Foster wrote, “In the same way that a child cannot draw a bad picture so a child of God cannot offer a bad prayer.” Here are 4 basic things we can do to pray simple prayers:
1. Show up- Film director and actor Woody Allen is often quoted as saying, “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” That is certainly true of prayer. Simply turn our attention to God; that is the beginning of prayer, and it is often the great majority of it as well. Psalm 88:13: But I cry to you for help, LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you. In the morning I have to prime the pump and turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face…
2. Trust- The soul that prays, trusts. The soul that trusts, prays. Wherever we are, be reminded that God is there. Believe that He is listening. Remember that He is good and loving and that He knows what we need before we even begin to pray. 1 Peter 5:7: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
3. Listen- Peter Kreeft said, “It makes no sense for us to do most of the talking. We ought to be listening most of the time.” It may take time and practice before we can differentiate between the voice of God and the voices in our head, but it is well worth it to try. Silence and solitude are essential for prayer. They help us develop our listening skills. We may want to repeat the prayer of Samuel: “Speak, for your servant is listening (1 Samuel 3:10).” May find it easier to listen while walking in the woods or sitting alone in a church auditorium.
4. Ask- Richard Foster suggests: In simple prayer we bring ourselves before God just as we are, warts and all. Like children before a loving Father, we open our hearts and make our requests known. We do not try to sort things out, the good from the bad. We simply share our concerns and make our petitions. We tell God, for example, how frustrated we are with the co worker at the office or the neighbor down the street. We ask for food, favorable weather, and good health. Nothing is too little or too wrong to ask. He will let us know as we listen.
