There are times in our lives when we may not know how to pray. Perhaps there is someone who is very ill and may die. We want them to live but we don’t want them to suffer and so we’re not sure what we should ask God for. We feel guilty thinking about asking for death and selfish asking for life. What to do? Sometimes we are so confused and upset that we can’t think of a single prayer.
I once read a story about a woman who grew up memorizing prayers but didn’t realize that she could use her own words to pray. When she had children, she taught them to talk to God but thought she was doing them a favor by not making them memorize any formal prayers. One day, her son was in a terrible accident and told her that he didn’t know what to pray, and she suggested that he say The Lord’s Prayer, but he told her he didn’t know it. Prayer is an interesting thing. As we can see from this story, it’s not an either or but a both and approach that we need. We need permission to use our own words but it’s nice to know a formal prayer for many reasons, including the ability to pray with the community. I know my mother as a child had to learn the 23rd Psalm in addition to the Lord’s Prayer. And my introduction to prayer was using my own words, but my parents made sure I knew both. It’s also good to know that when all we can do is cry out in pain, The Holy Spirit will take over and provide what we need.
The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And God Who searches our hearts knows the mind of The Spirit, because The Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with The will of God.
And we pray:
Father LORD, Hallelujah!!! I raise my hands and give You ALL glory. Your Essence created me and Loves me, not for what I do or refuse to do; because You are Love! Hallelujah glory!!! Your Essence knows all, Amen. You know what I need and keenly in knowledge of my wants. I seek to please You LORD for king David wrote: “Delight yourself in The Lord, and God will give you the desires of your heart.” in Psalm 37:4. Lord, I seek to delight myself in and with Your fullness, Amen. LORD, I will to be filled with Your goodness and glory to overflow and bless those around me. Use me LORD, Your will be done in my life I pray, Amen.