AM I SAYING THE WRONG THINGS, OR PRAYING THE WRONG WAY? – Episode 2
Matthew 6:7-8 says, “When you pray, do not use a lot of meaningless words, as pagans do, who think their gods will hear them because their prayers are long…..your father already knows what you need before you ask him.” Verses 9-13 then teach us how to pray with words we have now coined, ‘The Lord’s Prayer’. So, why does it feel like the very simplicity in prayer that Jesus encouraged has become ‘less spiritual’ in the eyes of many? Why is there so much emphasis placed on complexity, and what do you do when your simple words seem ineffective?
If God knows what I need before I ask, why does it feel like I have to go through hurdles just to get his attention? At what point did simply kneeling and uttering simple agonized words directly from the heart become ‘not enough’?
These were questions that raided my heart for a long time. I have always been a believer in speaking from the heart in the quiet of my room, knowing fully well that the presence of God or his ability to hear me isn’t tied to how loudly I shout or how many words I use, because truthfully, how vast is my vocabulary sef lol?
However, what happens when you’re faced with the storms of life and even the few words you once clung to become pained whispers. What happens when all you can do is cry? Do these classify as prayer? Can I still come to God as broken and weak as I feel, or do I need to do something ‘special’ to get his attention?
I came across a video where the person said, “crying before God without saying anything is you just looking for sympathy, and that won’t get his attention. Open your mouth and talk”. I watched another video, and the message was “If you want to move the hand of God, you need to tie all your requests to a kingdom purpose. If you can prove to God that your need will be used for his kingdom, he will definitely answer you”. Yet again, I heard someone talk about the secret to getting God’s attention, and the premise was that seeking God is like standing in a courtroom. You need to go through the proper channels, so the Holy Spirit is your adviser, telling you what to say to Jesus, who is your lawyer and who takes your request to God. So, does this mean I can’t just talk to God directly?
Again, I ask, what happened to the mere simplicity of prayer? What happened to talking to God as though talking to a friend and a father? What happened to lying in his presence with a heavy heart and leaving strengthened? Yes, what if my crying in his presence is me looking for sympathy, isn’t Abba’s arms where to find solace? How do I connect my desire for him to strengthen me on days when my faith fails, to kingdom purpose, so I can get his attention? How do I tell him all I need is to feel seen by him when life gets tough, if I have to go through all these hurdles just to get his attention?
When did talking to my father become so complicated?
Sincerely, if you’ve read this far and somehow hope I have the answer, then I’m sorry, but I don’t. I’m just as confused as when I wrote the first word. It’s easy to start feeling heavy not from the weight of the burdens on our hearts but from the complexities that sometimes surround our faith. It is easy to start feeling minuscule in the grand scope of things, and we sometimes take that to mean we are insignificant to God. It is easy to start feeling unworthy of his presence and feeling like our needs are incomparable to those of the ‘giants of faith’.
All in all, one thing I’m holding to is the fact that no one knows God better than God, and no one knows us better than God. Why do we hold on to human complexities and protocols when it comes to something as simple as talking to God? The greatest miracles in the bible came from heartfelt pleas and surrender to God. If God could hear and answer them through the brokenness they unashamedly carried to him, then why do we feel the need to be perfect just to approach him? One thing is certain: if you wait to attain a level of perfection in your devotion or your ability to fast and pray or your service to him before you feel worthy of approaching him, then you’re in for a long ride.
Let us normalize coming to God broken, unashamed, heavy-hearted, scared and confused. Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest”. If the bible used the phrase “fear not” a lot, it means God understands and acknowledges our predisposition to be scared, right?
Let’s Say This Prayer Together:
Dear God,
Right now, I lack the words to describe exactly how I feel. All I know is my heart feels heavy, and my strength is failing me.
Abba, help meto find solace in the quiet; fill my heart with your peace that surpasses all understanding and help me find your unconditional love in the little things happening all around.
Daddy, on days when my feet get too stuck to move and all I can do is sit and wail, help me to remember that you are the same God who is willing to walk with me through the valley of death, thus, you are always with me, and I am worthy.
So when I have no strength to stand, remind me that even showing up broken is enough. Amen.
Hi guys, thanks for reading. Faith doesn’t always silence the questions, sometimes, it just teaches us where to bring them. This series is not about having all the answers; it’s about creating room to ask the hard ones. So if you’re doubting, hurting, or just tired of pretending, know this: God is not offended by your questions. He’s already in them, waiting to meet you with love, truth, and grace. So, keep showing up, keep asking, and keep believing, even with trembling hands. Because even in the questions… He is still God.
So if you are interested, please join us on this journey as we navigate the emotions we feel but are too scared to admit. Always remember, this is a safe space. If you have questions you would like us to address, do not hesitate to send us a message here-https://www.justhummingbird.com/contact-me/ or here-https://stats.sender.net/forms/e7ly1a/view