Pray any(way)

Many of us worry about praying well. We wonder: Am I doing it right? What if I didn’t do it well enough?

Prayer is influenced by our sense of relationship with God. Prayers born out of deep trust in or devotion to God will probably happen more regularly and authentically than prayers of convenience. Some Christians worry if it is okay to express anger with God in our prayers. Yet when we are angry with God, we may pray more honestly than when we pray with disinterest. Many psalm writers do just that, and Jesus’ lament on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” seems to contain a touch of anger (Mark 15:34). So why not? God can handle it.

Regardless of what we say, God has promised to listen and respond, perhaps not in ways we expect or want, but certainly in ways that guide us toward God’s desire for our lives. So let us pray!

This message is from “Am I doing it right?” by Laurie A. Jungling in the July/August 2018 Gather magazine. Today we commemorate Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c. 342. All are welcome to attend a Blue Christmas service via Zoom, December 21 at 7 p.m. (CST).

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