Sophisticated Prayer?

Growing up and attending churches, I wondered at the practiced, polished sounding prayers of the collared men at the pulpit.  Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, etc.  My wondering was not good. The prayers seemed, to an unsaved boy, contrived. I am not criticizing just relating my observations at that time in my life.  I am sure those gentleman were praying how they were taught and who am I to judge?

Years later, as an adult, I got saved.  As a baby Christian, I was amazed at how well those around me could pray.  I wished I could pray like them.  Fervent, passionate, yet flowing and understandable. Some good friends even showed me that it was OK to add humor in your prayers (thank you Joe Stewart and Steve Crain).  God invented it and I believe down to my deepest parts that God laughs too.

Over the years of praying, I think I became a little practiced at it as well.  I did not realize this until recently.  A few  times I have prayed one-on-one with some brand new or close to becoming brand new Christians and they stated how they wish that they could pray like me.  I was astonished, humbled, and a little abashed.  I explained to them that it did not matter.  I told them God wants your heart not your eloquence.  The smoothness will come later.

Well, I have and am still raising 12 children.  OK.  1 is with God now.  Over the years I have listened to them pray in our family prayer and study times.  From little kids to young adults.  We are now also babysitting some pre-schoolers ( 4-5 years old) and first graders.  On occasion, the little ones have joined us in prayer.  This morning, I realized, that after all these years I have it wrong.  Here is the prayer of a 4 year old.

"Dear Jesus,
Thank you for mommy and daddy.  Please help them have a good day at work.  Please help my big brudder have a good day at school.  Thank you for my toys.  Please help me to be good.  Thank you for letting me be with the Kwiggmins."

Innocent, pure, from the heart.  I stand corrected.  That is how we should pray.

Matthew 18: 1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.




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