Do you remember the first time you learned to pray? I can’t, but I do remember the first two prayers I learned which were:
1. Jesus wept
John 11:35
Sidenote: I’m not sure if this was really a prayer or not, but we would say it sometimes as grace before eating our food as kids. lol)
Don’t judge us, I’m sure I was hungry. lol
2. The Lord’s Prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
However as I got older, after hearing people praying at church what I considered to be “elaborate prayers” I was less likely to pray out loud in front of others. Clearly, my prayers didn’t sound anything like there prayers. ??♀️
Storytime:
For example, I remember I was driving one day and talking out loud to God aka praying and I said, “You are a rock in a weary land.” Mid sentence, I stopped and said, “What does that even mean?!!!” I had no idea. ??♀️
However, I heard someone else say it, so clearly it would be okay for me to say. Umm nah bruh.
From that moment forward, I told myself I would only use normal words that I use in everyday conversation to talk to him.
My Prayers
When I pray this is my communication with God, it has nothing to do with anyone else. I don’t have to repeat something I heard someone else pray either.
Furthermore, whether I pray and it seems like I am calling heaven down because of my articulate vocabulary or I pray God help me. Guess what? He hears both. Therefore, I prefer to pray the latter pray so I won’t confuse myself.
My prayers are something like this:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Forgive me for my sins.
It is me again.
Now God, today was a long day, that lady really made me upset.
Thank you for giving me strength to not respond and walk away.
I pray that you continue to cover me with your grace and mercies.
Send my guardian angels down to surround me.
I thank you for divine favor and connections with people I encounter on today.
In Jesus name, Amen.
In conclusion, after you start to pray you will build up a comfort level and your prayers will get longer. However, you can still say little one line prayers throughout the day.
Question of the Day:
When did you first learn to pray? And what was your first prayer?
I heard that sis… keeping it real with God! He knows when we’re foolin’ and acting like someone else in prayer. We might as well come correct. Nicely done.
Yes, he does. There is no reason to come to him faking.