Serious Informal Prayer
Most prayer seems serious, but it doesn’t have to be. I think prayer should more informal than formal. In our humanness or our flesh, we have made prayer into something I don’t think it was ever intended to be. Prayer is most definitely NOT performance – it is informal conversation with the Creator of the Universe. He loves it when I talk with Him.
Jesus introduced a different method and style to prayer that the “religious leaders” didn’t like or agree with. If I have direct access to God, I don’t need to only go to them for prayer. Jesus taught informality in prayer. Check this out…
7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. (Matthew 7:7-11 NLT)
I don’t want to make prayer something it was never intended for. If I’m leading prayer in public, it should still be informal. If I’m praying privately, it should be informal. Prayer is really me and God talking. Prayer/conversation helps build my relationship with God like conversation helps build my relationship with others.
Please don’t misunderstand – prayer is dripping with respect and honor for the Lord. It is not puffed up and fake. I think I should pray the same way I talk.
I also take prayer very serious even though it’s very informal. I want to talk to Him about EVERYTHING – certainly my stupidity and failures. Prayer invites the Lord’s blessing and favor upon me. I’m certainly asking for both. As I journey through the Word of God listening to Him speak to me, it has dramatically changed the way I speak to Him!
Pressing On!
Dwayne