iPray Fridays: SIMplicity

And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? "Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. "The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply.

Matthew 6: 5-13 (The Message)

"Its not how long u pray, its how strong you pray! You can pray for 5 hours but if there's no faith behind your prayer, there's no power."

@GuvnaB from Twitter

I really miss blogging, both reading and writing. I used to take the fact that I could blog for granted. Now its one of the things I'm grateful about. Lord, thank you that Zoe can blog...lol! I'm in a season where I have a lot of questions, maybe its the scientist in me or just a phase. There is a way in which one is raised not to ask questions, just to accept what one is given as the status quo. That's fine but for those who have questions, I am learning that who you ask is just as important as what you ask!

Reading my Bible this morning and this passage just jumped up at me. Sometimes when people ask me why I love to pray, I respond with 'I'm not so sure I love to pray, I'm learning'. I will be honest and confess that I have periods of time where I feel so distant from God. I don't read or study my Bible and I don't 'pray'. Yes 'pray' because I lay on my bed one morning and I heard a familiar voice whisper 'so if it isn't formal, does it mean it isn't conversation' those were not the exact words but something to that effect. 'Each time you want to speak to your dad or friends, do you wear something special or put some makeup on. In an emergency, do you consider your looks or the fact that you may not have been getting along or do you just reach out to the one who can help you sort your situation out! Do you only speak to them in public when others are around and ignore them in private?'

What is prayer? We say it is communication with God. Communication involves at least 2 parties and consists of speaking, listening and understanding. It is a 2 way thing. We speak to God and He speaks to us too. So many times I get caught up in a legalistic and religious view of things. When I pray sometimes people laugh and I do admit my prayers may be a bit funny but that's because I am funny and I believe God loves me like that. I need to search the Scriptures but I believe that most of the prayers Jesus made were in private and his public prayers were short and direct. Hmm, I believe a big barrier to effective prayer is this notion that it's like a recipe where you need to mix this and that, keep at this temperature for this long before you can get the right result. I want to challenge that and say we should come to God on the basis of relationship. Sometimes I talk for hours to a friend, sometimes a few minutes. I do not love them more when I speak longer or less when I speak shorter. The most important thing is that I communicate with them, pass the message across, honestly and openly. Also come believing that He hears and He has the power to change situations.

Its funny that I try to hide things from God, the One who sees all and knows all. Anyway today's iPray is about simplicity..not length, just honesty and openness between you and your daddy. If Jesus was sitting right next to you on a bench in a park and you had your head on his shoulder what would you tell him....even if you had to whisper it? Say it today. If you want to share it here, feel free to leave it as a comment.

Let's pray together.