Sheetrock Prayer

It is often said that they key to any relationship is communication. If the key to ANY relationship is communication, and communication with God is prayer, then why don’t more people pray?

I Thess. 5:17 tells us to “Pray without ceasing.” Romans 12:12 tells us to be “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;” but is there a way we should pray? The Word says in Matthew 6:7 “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” Meaning we don’t have to pray those King James prayers, ya know the type, “Oh dear, beautiful, most gracious, high in the holiest of places Lordeth, we cometh to thy heavenly throneth today. We seeketh thy holy wisdom…blah, blah, blah.”

On the other hand, I don’t believe that He wants to hear what Vaughn calls a “sheetrock prayer”. We all know that one. The one you pray because you have to. The one you have prayed so very many times that you can pray it in your sleep, and most of the time you do. You spew it out of your mouth with no Spirit whatsoever and it bounces off of the sheetrock and ricochets through the room. I think that the One who bled and died for our salvation from sin deserves so much more than that. He deserves communication worthy of the gift He gave.

So, how should we pray? When I meditate on this question, I go back to the basics, the foundation, so I go back to what we tell our children. “Pray like you’re talking to your best friend.” When I taught my children to pray I told them, “pretend like you have a telephone and its wired straight to God and you can call Him whenever you like.” We find intimacy with our Father when we talk with Him in prayer. He loves us and wants to spend time with us and you are never closer to Him than when you seek His loving face in prayer. Go to Him in faith. Know that he hears every prayer, that He knows and wants what’s best for us, and that He does answer every prayer according to His loving, perfect will.

Hebrews 4:16 says “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Come BOLDLY, it says. Paul urges boldness many times in his letters. The Lord says in James 4:2 that “ye have not, because ye ask not”. Pray in faith, knowing that your God loves you and wants all things for you. Expect results…don’t demand them, but come boldly, in faith, expecting results.

Prayer is intimate; know that God’s will is perfect so allow yourself to be guided by the Spirit He has placed in you. Pray for the big things, the little things and everything in between, but pray sincerely, pray God’s will, and pray with all your heart. Above all, pray with humility, honor and adoration before your Abba Father, your friend, the Almighty God. Remember the words of James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

If I can pray for you, please let me know.