Do not heap up empty phrases............

Thus does Jesus advise his disciples and assorted followers.  When you are praying:

Do not be like the hypocrites and pray in public just to be seen

    Do not heap up empty phrases

               Do not use lots and lots of words

Rather, whenever 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.  [see Matthew 6.5ff]

Prayer - a spiritual practice that is considered essential to a healthy spiritual life and relationship with God - and yet a topic with a thousand questions.  Folks want some concrete guidelines:  how long should my prayer be?  How often should I pray?  Are memorized prayers better?  Why are some prayers answered and not others?  Does God ignore my prayers because I have 'sinned'?

I believe that prayer centers us in God, refreshing our relationship with God......even when we are unhappy and expressing some serious disappointment with God's action or inaction. Prayer keeps the lines of communication open between us.  Even when we are angry, we are taking that anger to God and asking for some kind of help to understand and to continue to live faithfully in the midst of our anger or disappointment.

When we were little there were all kinds of instructions around prayer:  bow your head; fold your hands, close your eyes.  Those kinds of routines are especially helpful for children who thrive on routine and who, through this routine, recognize that they are doing something unusual.  Most of us, when the worship leader says, 'Let us pray' will automatically bow our heads and close our eyes.  It closes out distractions and centers our thoughts.

But we also know that prayer can happen at any time and in any place and is neither more or less effective with our eyes closed.  Prayers ascend to the Father from hospital rooms, on icy roads, at times of great joy, in times of quiet desperation, when we see another in need. All these stolen thoughts which are sent heavenward are real and true prayers and our Father hears them and knows our heart.

Extra special, fancy words are not needed.  In fact, I often think that 'professional' prayers often stand in the way of us opening our hearts to God.  Talk to God like you would talk to a beloved friend or spouse.  Tell God about what's happening in your heart; lay it out before God because God's love for you surpasses everything that you bring before the throne of God.  Speak of your doubts, your fears, your disappointments, your dreams.  Be honest - with God, of course - but more importantly, with yourself.

Then allow God time and space to lead you towards an answer, a time of comfort, a guiding hand.  I have never had God's voice boom out at me with an answer (would frighten me to death I think) but I have had a friend lead me towards a decision or reach out a compassionate hand.  These are God's answers to our prayers.

Let us not grow weary in prayer.  Its rewards grow with the frequency of its practice and our relationship with God deepens as well.