Sat, Sep 5, 2015

Praying Creatively-Matthew 6:5-6

I have said the same bedtime prayer every night since I was a little girl. Same mealtime prayer, too. Somehow that ‘Now I lay me down to sleep’ and 'God is great, God is good’ always seemed to do the trick, and I felt satisfied that God heard me loud and clear.

But then I realized a few years ago that my prayers had become methodical. I sped through the words without even thinking. Suddenly I realized that I was not connecting with God while I was praying. I realized He didn’t want a rehearsed, storybook prayer. He wanted to hear the song of my heart.

So I began to pray creatively. I stopped the usual, scripted prayer and instead began to say what was on my heart. I prayed for God to transform me. Break me. Make me new. Make me uncomfortable in stagnate situations. Bring me to a new level. I didn’t need a crowd around me, I didn’t need to be applauded when I was done. I all needed was an audience of One.

And guess what? My life shifted. Everything began to change. The bad habits I had carried with me for years were suddenly gone. My speech changed. My writing changed. Even the way I interacted with others changed. God was (and still is) shaping me into the woman He created me to be.

I encourage you to shake up your prayers today. It’s okay to say your usual prayers, but when you’re done, speak from your heart. You don't need scrolls of prepared prayers.

All you need is a heart that is open and ready to talk to God.

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-6 MSG

“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.