Lord, Let's Cut To The Chase

How long, O Lord, will you look on and do nothing? Rescue me from their fierce attacks. Protect my life from these lions!
Psalm 35:17

How’s your prayer life? Do you talk to God often? When you pray do you find yourself trying to impress him with how long you can pray? The answer at times for all three of these questions has been yes for me.

I don’t claim to be an expert on the subject of prayer, but I do know it’s about honest conversation with the Lord so I have tried to make a regular habit of it. I know the Lord wants to hear from me, but what do I say? Isn’t it a little awkward talking to someone whose physical presence is not right in front of me? Maybe, but try what David did in the Psalms.

I’m always amazed as I read through the Psalms and some of the Old Testament prophets at the way they prayed. They don’t pray like I do. David talked with the Lord like they were best friends and I know we should, but I think we get caught up in trying to use all the holy words and using things like “your will be done Lord” that we forget the honesty part I think He craves.

Do you think you could say what David did above in Psalm 35? “How long, O Lord, will you look on and do nothing?” I think if I talked with God like that he would zap me dead from heaven. David always seemed to be in peril with someone trying to kill him and in this psalm he was just being honest. “Lord, I could use a little help here. There’s a bunch of people on my tail here with big spears and swords.”

As I was talking with a friend the other day, this kind of prayer with the Lord can only work if this is the kind of relationship you have with Him. I’m not saying I would recommend this for everyone, but what I am saying is to be honest with Him when you get to your prayer requests. Don’t hem and haw and go on forever and just cut to the chase.

It’s been told to me before that sometimes the best prayer is as simple as one word, “HELP.” If you’re praying for someone that is sick God is okay with us asking for healing and for Him to be glorified. We don’t have to pray with a backdoor plan as well so it looks like our prayer was answered. Our prayers will always be answered. Sometimes the answer is just no.

So I challenge you and me today to check your prayer life. Are you honest in your prayers and specific of your requests? Try something different if you find yourself rambling on and on to get to the point quicker. Do you try and give God a back-up plan in your prayers? Don’t quit trying and take it to the Lord. He hears you.