For many of us, our prayer life isn’t as robust or authentic as we’d like. We string the words together, but the ‘connection’ seems to be lacking sometimes. Here’s good news: Our prayer life can change for the better. It doesn’t need to be lacking or deficient, and it’s within our power to turn things around.

From our Father’s perspective, there’s nothing that would please Him more than to be in constant contact with His children. You could never communicate with Him too often. We might get tired of hearing someone’s voice – but not Him! He is delighted when we initiate communications with Him – whether it’s a prayer of thanks, worship and praise or the ‘uploading’ of an anxiety, the outpouring of grief, the confession of a sin or a plea for help. His ear is open 24/7, and He is waiting to hear from you. Unlimited minutes available — yes, unlimited access to the Eternal God!

Can we learn to pray more effectively? Just as infants progress in their communication skills and progress is made year after year, there should be development and progression in my prayer life as well. Jesus mentioned a few things to the disciples about ‘how’ to communicate with their Heavenly Father.

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.” Matthew 6:5-7

God values sincerity in our prayers. He takes no pleasure in public prayers that are ostentatious or pretentious. Is it possible that some believers may choose to pray because a significant person is there to hear them? We can sometimes be more concerned about who’s listening down here than who’s listening up there. God is not impressed when we’re trying to impress.

Can you imagine ‘using’ a prayer as the venue to display how much one knows? Jesus condemned such prayers.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Lord also values brevity in our public prayers. Jesus condemned the Pharisees for their ‘long’ prayers. You can pray as long as you like in private, but brevity seems to be valued in public prayers. I recall one overseer saying he had asked his wife to nudge his foot when he exceeded the four-minute mark in public prayer. Just because an older Christian has fallen into the dreadful rut of praying long in public – don’t you!

Like sincerity, God values ‘reality’ and ‘clarity’ in our prayers. He does not long to hear vain repetitions, overused prayer clichés, or complex, high-falutin sentences. We shouldn’t be pompous, artificial, or unnatural in our prayers. Yes, we should be orderly and aware that corporate prayer is different from our personal prayers.

Beware of merely repeating stock phrases we have heard others use. Our prayers should be reverent but not stuffy. Which sounds more like the real you: “Lord, protect them as they travel on the highways,” or “May God grant them journeying mercies?” We need to be authentic in our prayers. Here’s another one: “Make Thou their bed in their sickness.” Wouldn’t it be more like me to ask the Lord to be especially close to Henry and Myrtle during their sickness?

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We are creatures of habit and form. So often, we fall into the rut of starting or ending our prayers the same way without exception: “O merciful God, loving Lord, and Heavenly Father….” Or we quote the lines of the same hymn every Sunday morning as we gather for the Lord’s Supper: “Hark I hear the dull blow of the hammer swung low, they are nailing my Lord to the tree…” It’s called a rut.

John Newton (1725–1807) wrote a little tract for those who pray publicly. The dangers of excessive length, preaching in prayer, formal praying, unwarranted repetition, and extremes in voice and manner were among the bases he covered — yes, 200+ years ago.

Prayer is an amazing and incredible privilege and a resource that eclipses all other possibilities. Let’s be reverent, respectful, real and robust in our prayers. Our longer personal prayers happen in private. Shorter public prayers in a local church are corporate— when each brother prays on behalf of the entire assembly of believers. (Acts 4:24-31)

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

Don’t hesitate to share a thought from your personal experience or a verse that has been a blessing to you –  in the comment section below. Or, if you would like to reach out privately, click below.

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