What’s prayer, anyway? I like J. I. Packer’s definition: “The prayer of a Christian is not an attempt to force God’s hand, but a humble acknowledgement of helplessness and dependence.”
Prayer takes different forms. Sometimes it’s liturgical and recited aloud in a formal church setting. Sometimes it’s private, penned in one’s journal for only the author to see. Prayer might follow a formula such as ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication), or it might be a simple one word—“Help!”
Psalm 107:1-43 contains four instances where people prayed using only the word, “Help!” Here’s one example—“Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless. Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died. ‘Lord, help!’ they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress.”Some folks might think that, for prayers to be effective, they must be long or eloquent. That’s not so. Short ones—“Help!”—whispered or cried from a heart that truly recognizes one’s need for God’s provision or intervention can stir Him to answer.
If you’re an exhausted parent, you can cry, “Help!”
If your marriage is failing, you can cry, “Help!”
If you’re wrestling with a major decision, you can cry, “Help!”
Never hesitate to pray because you think your words don’t sound spiritual enough. Who’s to say what “spiritual enough” is, anyway? God’s most concerned about our heart attitude. Prayer is our way to show Him that we understand our need for Him, and we want and welcome His involvement in our lives.
It doesn’t matter how long or short our prayers are. It matters that we connect with the God who invites us to connect with Him.
#bgbg2 #ChristianDevotions #ShortPrayersWork
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