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Start Simple, Childlike Even

People want to pray.

Men, women, children all want to pray.

People who have a relationship with God and even those who don’t. I’ve talked to so many people about prayer and they say things like “I just don’t know how” or “I can’t pray like you”. That last one makes me laugh because I am not in any sense a prayer guru.

I’m a child running to his Father and blurting things out!

And I do them in creative and clumsy ways, like a child. But the beauty of it is that God wants to spend time with you and I. God wants to hear from us.

So there is desire on both sides — our side and God’s side. That’s a reassuring thought. It encourages us to try.

So, what if we try something simple. God is good with simple.

Have you in your life had a prayer that you knew or heard a lot? Perhaps something your parent or grandparent or priest or teacher or Pastor said?

If not, don’t give up. God starts with us where we are at. Please hear that, really.

God starts with us where we are at.

For some children they used to sing a song that goes like this,

Jesus loves me, this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak but He is strong

Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so

There are additional verses but the basic parts we’ve got so far are a great beginning to prayer.

It’s fabulous theology! It’s based on Jesus’ love for you. That’s where we start with prayer. It’s not about our effort or how good we’ve been. It’s about God’s love. As in “they are weak but He is strong”.

When someone is desperate and they cry out to God or they call out, “Jesus help me!” it’s because they know or hope that God loves them. In their desperation, they’re hoping or trusting God is still there. It might be a last ditch effort, a plea in desperation but it’s based on God’s love.

We can and probably should always start prayer depending on God. That’s what prayer is. We’ve grown up and stopped being “little ones”.

But to God we’re still the same little ones who He loves.

So, if you don’t know what to pray why not start with Jesus Loves Me. Even recite the words of that simple song as a prayer. Express how God loves you.

Then speak from that.

Tell Him how that makes you feel.

Thank Him.

Ask Him to help you know He’s there.

Ask Him to help you feel His love.

Go with the flow for a minute or ten!

Prayer is a conversation between you and God. Start simple and try it for a few days or a week. See how that works.

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