I have a friend who talks up a storm. Once you get him started, just sit back and get yourself a cup of coffee, kick off your shoes, and make yourself comfortable because you are going to be there for a “while”. If you ask him what time it is, he will tell you how to build a clock, a watch, (including wind up and battery operated), a sun dial, and the origin of clocks. (My wife seems to think that I am cut out of the same mold and when you get the two of us together it is like releasing water out of the Hoover Dam She is so wrong about so many things!) My friend is never at a loss for words about any subject and can launch into a diatribe concerning any subject faster than a NASA shuttle can speed towards outer space.
It is pretty amazing to me that when this fellow and I go out to eat together and it is his turn to ask the blessing for our meal that it consists of the following, “PLEASE BLESS THIS FOOD AMEN”. (I made his blessing prayer all caps because that is how it is delivered; he recites it in a somewhat loud, nervous, manner, and faster than a speeding bullet I tell you.) It is obvious to me that he is very uncomfortable saying a prayer aloud, because I cannot envision him being at a loss for words. When I pressed him on this, he just blew it off by saying that he was hungry. Yeah right; the man of many words is at a loss for words when he says a little prayer in front of others. Ha!
Hmmm I have been in the same situation numerous times, as have many of you who are reading this. Why are we so nervous when speaking to our Father in heaven? I think it is because we are concerned about what others think and are nervous about making a fool out of ourselves. Therein lays the problem. Jesus instructed us not to pray prayers in front of others, especially long flowery repetitive prayers, because our motivation was that we would do so more to impress others with our hypocritical piety, than because of our sincere desire to thank God for what He has done for us and petition Him to intercede in our lives and strengthen us for our daily battles. In short He wants us to pray to our Father and not to others who might overhear our prayer.
For years I did not like to pray in a restaurant or elsewhere in public, not because I am shy about speaking, but because I was convinced that we were to do as Jesus commanded when He told us to pray privately and even told us to go into a closet and pray directly to the Father, but after studying the Bible for a lifetime I am convinced that at times it is entirely appropriate and God wants us to pray in front of others. Jesus prayed often in front of others, and He always asked God to bless His food prior to eating; thus it is my opinion that we should follow His example.
Now if we are doing this because we want to obey our Father, emulate Jesus, and because we are sincere in our desire to thank God for His many blessings, then it is appropriate. If we just want the others at the table and in the restaurant to think we are really a great Christian Joe or Jane, well that is a horse of a different color; is it not? I think the instruction to go into a closet and pray in private is intended to emphasize to us to pray to God and not to others.
Praying is much easier if we will pray directly to our Father. Jesus prayed to His Father and He made note that His Father who knows everything already knew our every need, but even though he knows our needs and hearts He still instructs us that we need to go to Him in prayer ceaselessly. I have analyzed the Lord’s Prayer and I try to follow it in format when I pray. I do this because Jesus said this is how we should pray; and who better to instruct us than Him? If you will study it, the beginning glorifies God by stating the obvious that He is in heaven which is above all of life; it also makes note of God’s revered position, “Hallowed be thy name”. Hallowed means God’s name is tremendously glorified and revered; so we might start off by saying something like, “Dear heavenly Father let your holy name be glorified throughout creation”. Jesus goes on to state that we should desire for God’s kingdom to come and for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Jesus states that we should ask God to sustain us in this life, not with Porsches and diamonds, but by simply saying “Give us our daily bread”. I have come to believe that phrase refers to more than just food, but also includes “all” of our needs and especially wisdom from the Bible. Also note the word “daily”. Do you remember the manna from heaven? It was given daily and the Jews could not hoard it and save manna for the next day or it would rot. God wants us to come to Him daily and not just once in a blue moon when we need something extraordinary. He wants us to realize that we are totally reliant on Him and not ourselves.
Jesus instructs us to ask God to forgive us our sins against Him as we forgive those who sin against us. He then tells us to petition God to protect us from satan by leading us away from his often overpowering temptation and to deliver us from evil.
Jesus tells us to end the prayer by reiterating that God is supreme and that it is His Kingdom and that He has the power, and He has the glory forever. In other words glorify God and praise Him for who He is and for what He has done in sending Jesus to give us salvation!
Ok it seems simple enough to pray a simple prayer:
- Begin by glorifying God
- Ask God each day to meet our “daily” needs
- Ask God to please forgive us our sins (and importantly pledge to God that we will forgive others in like manner)
- Ask God to protect us from temptation and deliver us from evil
- End it by again glorifying God
You should not dread being called on to pray in church or ask the blessing at a family gathering, or when eating out with friends. To overcome your fear of speaking in front to others practice in front of those whom you are most comfortable, such as family members or close friends, (or in private if you are not comfortable in front of anyone). I am comfortable speaking in front of others because I have done so many hundreds and thousands of times. The more that you do it, the more comfortable you will become. The most important thing is to forget those around you who might overhear your prayer. Keep in mind that even if your prayer might sound clumsy to you and/or others, it is like beautiful sweet music to God’s ears. Pray to “God” and forget those around you and block them out of your mind. If you find it helpful, keep in mind the five steps above that Jesus outlined in His Sermon on the Mount.
Remember whom you are addressing, the almighty Creator of all; be thankful, be remorseful for your sin, be forgiving and ask forgiveness, ask for help, and praise your Father for He is good and He is the epitome of love. If you still dread praying on those occasions, PRAY for help! Have a nice day today…
Matt. 6:33
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all
these things will be added to you.