Jul 7, 2011
The Power of a Lame Prayer
Having gone to seminary, I sometimes think that I should be able to whip up some pretty sophisticated and profound prayers. It’s not that I took any classes on “Effective Prayers Before Meals” or “King David’s Greatest Hits.” I just think that with all of this theology crammed into my head, I should be able to formulate some really awesome prayers.
OK, I’ll be honest—theology really does change how we pray. However, theological training does not make one particularly better at seeking out God, listening to his Spirit, and speaking to him.
While my theology has helped me pray with more power, there are some prayers that I simply can’t improve. They seem sort of lame. What’s even more surprising to me is that a lame prayer can still be quite effective.
Here’s my lame prayer. At the start of each day I say something like this: “God, I offer myself and my work to you and your purposes.”
I suppose I could say more. Heck, I’m a writer. I could get that sucker up to 500 words in 20 minutes. What I have there always seems good enough because it drives at the heart of what needs to happen.
When we offer ourselves to God and open our lives to him, that’s often all he needs to get started.
That prayer isn’t a guarantee that every day will be good. I still need to keep myself on track, focus, and make good decisions. I can still make selfish decisions or lose my temper. I also need to pray a lot more than that simple sentence.
However, by offering my day to God and letting him work through me, I’ve also moved myself away from taking all of the credit. Pride is a huge struggle for writers, and I’m sure I don’t even know the half of my issues with it. If I finish my day and want to take all of the credit for my accomplishments, I know that I didn’t offer myself to God as an act of worship.
If I feel like God has carried me throughout my day and empowered me to do my work, then I have a deeper sense of fulfillment and joy because I’ve experienced God’s presence in my life and drawn glory to him.
The difference is subtle, but you’ll know it when you see it.
God wants to work in and through us throughout the day. Sometimes it only takes a lame prayer to change everything.
How do you carve out time with God throughout the week?
Read more about creating spiritual “white space” to meet with God at Faith Barista today: How Ordinary You Holds Extraordinary Value.
Smiling at this:
“I suppose I could say more. Heck, I’m a writer. I could get that sucker up to 500 words in 20 minutes.”
So true.
And thanking God for this:
“A lame prayer can still be quite effective.”
Thanks, Ed. As usual, you serve us good stuff here.
Sure helps you argue though.
)
I think all of my prayers are lame which is why I almost never pray in a group. When I pray alone, my prayers are usually pretty short…and still lame.
Lame prayer is that which has no meaning. Powerful prayer is asking God to take authority in your life. C.S. Lewis said that prayer does not change God’s mind, it changes ours. There is a lot of truth to that.
I love that Lewis quote. Prayer really is all about getting us onto the same page with God.
My short prayers:
“Lord, be in charge of the timing.”
“Give me your love to give my people today.”
“Father! Help!”
“This is so hard!”
(He seems to like them.)
Sometimes, I think, lame prayers are the ones that are the most important — those prayers when you don’t know how to say something, when words fail, when you come limping to God, broken.
Good post, Ed.
Thanks Glynn. That’s really what it’s all about. We’re not getting grades for our prayers. If we can say what’s on our hearts, our prayers will certainly never be lame!
“Lord, help me.” is my “lame” and powerful prayer. Sometimes the cry of our heart, without pretense, are the most amazing communications to God…even wordless prayer….for a writer-type THAT is saying something.
I think my theology training helped me in prayer in that I could apprehend God’s true nature and character with less of my own prejudices and baggage and previous erroneous spiritual formation.
It seems, in this post, that you were sort of channeling Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, Ed.
WINNING!
Somehow, I think ANY honest response to God is prayer, and none of it is lame. Anne Lamott said her most frequent prayers are, “Help me! Help me! Help me!” and “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Works for me. And clearly it works for you. Thanks for this thoughtful post. Looking forward to following you by email for both posts and newsletter.
My lamest prayers have been the most powerful. Here, here!
I have been praying that prayer you suggested last year at the beginning of the day.
“God show me what you want me to do today.”
And whatever crazy thing happens, even when it’s not my ideal, that first prayer in the a.m. gave me confidence I was walking by faith and making a difference to God who sees me.
Great stuff, Ed. Feeds the soul.
I think sometimes I hit the wrong comment section on the wrong blog and then I see a comment which makes no sense at all (like mine above). What in the world was I thinking? Okay…recap…
I make time with God on my way to work, talking to Him in prayer, I make time for Him as we talk thorughout the day, and here and there reading scripture. Can’t say I’m a super Christian. I know I should spend more quality time. That’s my sin.