Short. Simple. Honest. Series

Well… in the Weber household… we have four kids.

And I don’t know how we have 4 kids… but we do.

And we also have a minivan…

Why? Because we’re cool like that.

And when did this become my life?

I’m not sure.

But each night after my 4 yahoos…

have their PJs on and their teeth brushed… we pray.

And now… don’t picture four kids… praying…

quietly kneeling in a row… at the end of their bed.

Instead picture them praying… while playing with Legos…

hanging upside down…

constantly interrupting… each other…

and annoying the crap out… each other.

And I mean… when we pray… to put it lightly…

it’s complete chaos.

And yes, I’m a pastor…

and no, you can’t judge my family….

But often… I’ll start praying…

and then they… will audibly add things throughout the prayer.

And when they pray…

they thank God… for their stuffed animals….

And they pray for the sun to shine…

And they thank God for their mac-n-cheese…

And they pray for the owie… on their knee to go away.

And they pray for their sister… to not be so mean… anymore.

which usually… starts a fight.

And truth be told though… I’m never quite sure… of what they’re going to pray for…

but I know it will be… short, simple, and honest.

And they just say it… I mean, pray it.

And there’s no fluff…

And it’s not long and drawn out…

and they don’t beat around the bush.

And when they pray…

they don’t talk using a different voice or different words…

than they use elsewhere.

They just say what they feel… and they feel what they say.

Again it’s short. Simple. Honest.

**And when I say short…

it’s often… only one sentence long…. And sometimes just a few words.

Like they’ve never prayed a 4-point sermon.

And for them, there’s no certain length that makes a good prayer.

They just say what’s needed…

They just say what’s on their heart….

No one likes a long prayer.

And neither do they.

And I don’t want to speak for God,

but I’m just guessing he might feel the same way.

Kids... keep it short.

And they also… keep it simple.

Like… kids… they don’t pray in the King James Version.

Like they don’t use big, fancy words.

You don’t need a dictionary to understand…

what they’re trying to say.

And I mean… They’re not praying to be heard by others.

And they’re not praying to impress God… but to talk with him.

Jesus, help me to find someone to play with at recess.

And God, I’m not sure why I can’t see you.

And so kids keep it simple…

but they also keep it honest.

Like kids keep it real…

And they speak from the heart…

And they pray exactly… what they mean… not what they should.

Like… when they’re happy… they tell God.

And when they’re sad… they let him know.

And when they’re scared, they tell him why.

And when they want something… they ask him for it.

And when their butt hurts…

because they’re still learning how to properly wipe?

What do they pray?

God, help my butt to feel better.

Again… what they feel… is what they say.

There’s no filter. It’s honest

And now I just gotta say…

That all of this is great right… but they’re just kids…

And they’re so cute.

And they’re so innocent… and adorable…

And they’re so uneducated when it comes to God.

And they don’t even know…

I mean… in a few years, when they get older…

And when they know more,

Then… they’ll learn how to pray the “right way.”…

and for the “right things.”

Until then, their wrong prayers… are just… so sweet and innocent… right?

Actually… wrong.

You see… one point in the Bible…

The 12 disciples were chatting…

about which of them was the greatest.

About who was the best among them…

And when they couldn’t agree… they approached Jesus…

and they asked him their question.

“Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Essentially they were asking…

“Hey Jesus… which one of us… is the most important?

Like which one of us… is the best?”

And what was Jesus’s response?

He didn’t ask one of the experienced fishermen to stand up…

And He didn’t ask an educated doctor to step forward…

And He didn’t look to a wise priest for his thoughts.

Instead, he called out to a young kid…

and He asked him to come over… and to sit by Him.

And what did Jesus say to the group?

He said, “Become like this little child.”

Wait… what was that Jesus?

Become like this little child…

Like a little kid?

You mean… we should have faith like a little kid?

And even pray like a kid?