Prayer and Imitation

The Ola Olutayo Mail.
Today 12-5-12.

Prayer and Imitation.

If you listen too much to the prayers of other believers, you will only pick up all of the 'clichés', all of the 'lingo', and all of the 'shibboleths' to get you over Jordan.
Without question, Christians should pray corporately. But that doesn't mean they should pray identically.

I've discovered there are two groups of people who can teach you the most about praying.

Number one, children.
They are refreshing and realistic. Yet you can't compare the vast difference between reciting the Lord's Prayer week in-week out in church and launching into a simple, eloquent rendition before dinner or bedtime.

The other group to listen to is new converts. They haven't learned all of the jargon. A man in our church came to Christ and decided to show up for a prayer meeting and Bible study on Wednesday night. We had the study, and then we broke into groups for prayer.

"Hey, Howie. Where are we going?" he asked me as we headed down the hall.
"We're going down here to pray," I said.
"Good night, I've got a problem," he exclaimed.
"What's your problem?"
"I can't pray. I mean, I can't say it the way you guys say it."
I said, "Friend, that's no problem. Thank God for that."
So we began praying. I knew he wanted to participate, but he was a little hesitant. Finally, I reached over and prompted him to go ahead. I'd give anything to have a recording of what happened next.

He said,
"Lord, this is Jim. I'm the one that met You last Thursday, remember?" (I thought he was going to give God his zip code.) "I'm sorry I can't say it the way the rest of these guys say it, but I really love You. Honestly, I do. And hopefully, after I know You a while, I'll be able to say it a lot better. Thanks a lot. I'll see you later."

You know what the man did? He turned on a prayer meeting. You see, the rest of us were saying prayers. As usual, we were reviewing our theology. This guy was praying. Just talking to God. Without realizing it, he was way ahead of the rest of us because he was honest before his heavenly Father. The only thing that ever moves Him is our heart.
[Culled from Living By The Book by Howard & William Hendricks.]

What a refreshing story. Love it!

Thanks Ola for sharing that
He was really talking with God
This is a good line to remember

The only thing that ever moves Him is our heart.