Your Prayers Don't Have To Be Fancy

       So many times I hear people say, "I don't know how to pray. It's complicated. My words don't come out right. I don't know what to say. What if I pray wrong?"  These are just a few concerns people have about prayer. They are making it more difficult than it really is.

       Do you have trouble talking with your dad? Do you stumble at the words when you want to tell him you love him? When you have a need, isn't it simple to go to your dad and ask him for what you need?  What about your best friend? You can talk hours with your friend. You can tell your friend anything: all your deepest thoughts and desires, your secrets, your plans and dreams. You can even ask your friend for anything you need, right?

     Well, God is our Father. His love for us goes deeper than our minds can comprehend. He knows all our thoughts and desires anyway. He knows what we need even before we ask. He is our best friend.

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24)


"for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."  (Matthew 6:8).

    So, if He already knows what we need before we ask, why should we ask?

"yet ye have not, because ye ask not." (James 4:2)

  
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" (Matthew 7:7).


       Talking to God is so easy. Just talk to Him like you would your family or friends. Tell Him you need Him and you love Him and you are lost without Him. Let Him know how much you are desperate for Him. Let Him know what you need. You don't need fancy words, long speeches, you don't have to use correct grammar or "thee" and "thou". 

       Look at a prayer Peter prayed when he was walking on the water with Jesus in the middle of a storm:  

"But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." (Matthew 14:30).

      He simply cried, "Lord, save me."  That's it. He didn't use fancy words or long prayers. If that were necessary, he would have been to the bottom of the sea.
    
     Look at how this sinner prayed to God when he found himself in desperate need of the Lord:


"And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner" (Luke  18:13). 

      "God be merciful to me a sinner". That's a simply cry for help that got the Lord's attention. Just talk to Him. He's your Father. He's your Friend. He is waiting to hear from you. You don't have to worry about it coming out wrong or the words not being right. God looks at your heart. He just wants us to pray. Just talk to Him. Don't wait. Don't delay. Don't think you're not educated enough to talk to Him. Come as you are and call on Him. Just speak to Him from your heart.  Today's the day.