WHEN PRAYER DOESN’T WORK

Five Principles for Simple Prayer

I hear it a lot – “I want to pray. I really do. But prayer just doesn’t do much for me. I don’t get anything out of it.” I understand. Maybe you’re expecting too much.

 

The Child-Like Prayer

My granddaughter is three, almost four. She’s in this phase where the idea of prayer is fascinating to her. A year ago she just liked holding hands at the restaurant, bowing our heads and closing our eyes. She would insist that we do it three or four times throughout the meal. I have a sneaky suspicion she liked being in control – the sense of power when all the adults around the table would quickly obey her mid-meal demand, “Let’s pray!” She liked the idea of praying.

 

But now, she’s really catching on. Her nightly prayers are becoming a recitation of every person she knows. “Bless Mommy and Daddy and Lolli and Pops and Kele and …” Eventually, she gets to people who have no name – “… and bless the man who picks up our garbage cans, and the lady at Target, and …” When she runs out of people she starts to bless things. “… and bless my toothbrush, and my colors, and …”

 

It’s simple, child-like prayer – not very exciting or dramatic – not much to listen to – and no real expectations. Thorough and complete – it’s everything that’s inside her little mind at the moment.

 

Maybe there’s something to that.

 

Jesus and Prayer

Jesus brought a little child before his disciples, had them form a circle around the child, and then said, “… unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 18:3).

 

The secret to entering into the Kingdom of God (read, the presence of God), is that you become like this little, unpretentious, uncluttered child.

 

Jesus prayed that way. He prayed for God to give him just enough for today (Mt. 6:11 ). He said that God takes care of the smallest things — like sparrows and flowers (Mt. 6:26-30). He prayed for God to take care of his friends (Jn. 17:9). He prayed for God to give him strength (Mt. 26:38).

 

Jesus prayed every morning for whatever was going to happen that day (Mk. 1:35). Some days were crazy busy for Jesus. Most days were not. Some days were filled with life-changing work. Other days were fairly uneventful. It didn’t matter. Jesus started each day with prayer.

 

The simple prayer is the child-like prayer. It is the transparent prayer that is most completely you.

 

Five Principles of the Simple Prayer 1

1. Be yourself.

Use natural language. Leave the “thee’s” and “thou’s” for Shakespeare and King James. Talk the way you would to your best friend. And remember, sometimes you can just sit with your best friend and say nothing at all.

 

2. Begin where you are.

Talk about everyday things. My wife and I spend time each evening talking about our day. Nothing is too small or mundane to mention. What made you happy? What stressed you out? Tell God about it.

 

Prayer is an act of love; words are not needed. -- Theresa of Avila

 

3. Don’t get discouraged by your lack of prayer.

I have cousins that I grew up with that I don’t talk to very often, but every time we reconnect, it immediately feels comfortable again; as if we had just talked the day before. Time stops for good friends.

 

God is that way.

 

Don’t let your lack of discipline with prayer keep you from picking it up again. If you have a time when your prayer life lapses into disarray – don’t worry about it – just start again and you’ll discover that God will treat you as if you had never stopped talking to him.

 

4. Pray when confronting evil.

The best and hardest and most honest prayers always come when we are being squeezed. Don’t let those moments pass. Feel God’s strength and relish the sense of intimacy you feel with God when you are walking through the fire.

 

He wants to be there for you.

 

5. Focus on uneventful prayer.

Sometimes I go months praying to God about little things, not hearing much from Him. Expectations can kill your prayer life. Not every prayer needs to be answered. Not every prayer is life-changing.

 

Do the work of talking to God about the little things, and when the BIG thing comes along, you’ll be ready.

 

 

St. Theresa of Avila said, “Prayer is an act of love; words are not needed.” Don’t get distracted by what you need to say or how God should respond. Focus on the simple prayer. Make that prayer your only expectation, and God will find a way to speak to you.