Relaxing In Prayer

[bluidkiti]

Relaxing In Prayer

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

“What if I say it wrong?” mumbled my Bible study partner. “What will I do if he misunderstands?”

This young wife and working mother planned to tell her husband that she felt sad, overworked, and exhausted. She wanted to ask her husband for help, but she was obsessed with doing it the right way. As we talked about it her jaw and shoulders tensed.

Some of us may be like this young woman when we prepare to talk with God. We feel driven to say the right words, at the right place, and in the right way. We try to fit our prayers into a rigidly calculated formula. Then we worry whether we followed the rules correctly.

God is not concerned with our exact words, or posture or methods. He wants our genuine faith. He loves and accepts us with open arms. We can speak freely to God through Jesus, even when we do not have it all figured out. We can tell him how we feel, how confused we are, and what we think at the moment. God listens patiently and then guides us through our needy times.

Lord, I’m throwing out the bogus rules
and man-made regulations I’ve had about prayer.
This new way of approaching you is going to take some practice.
Thanks for understanding and bearing with me.

Joan C. Webb