2:149 – Daddy, I Don’t Know How To Pray

#faithbites #faithjourney pray

Part of our bedtime routines is that we read a story as a family, then we pray together before going to bed. Everyone says what they want to pray for and we add them together.

Last night, my youngest didn’t want to go to sleep. She said she was nervous about her upcoming urology appointment. I said, we just prayed about it but we can pray again. She told me she didn’t know how. I had her repeat words after me. Then she said she wanted to pray again but she didn’t know the words. I told her, the words don’t matter as much as why you are praying. Then she prayed and did a great job.

We talked about God being everywhere. She said God only hears you when you pray. I explained that God hears you even when you don’t pray, but praying calls God attention to you. I explained it that I always hear them in the house but when they say Daddy, Daddy, my attention is dedicated to her.

Scripture

• And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.– 1 John 5:14 – 15
• Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. – Isaiah 65:24

Reflection

Today’s reflection is pretty simple. Our God is all knowing, all present, and all loving. He is always there. He knows what’s in our hearts, he hears us, and he answers when we pray.

Just like I told my daughter, there are no perfect words in prayer. I hope I’ve given her the confidence that she can pray no matter the words.  Speak your heart and God answers. You can’t say anything that would offend him. He sent Jesus to save us as he knows we mess up.

All we have to do is pray.

Charge

God is always there and he wants to dedicate attention to you. Pick up the prayer phone and call your father. Just say Hey God, help me with x,y,z and by the way thanks. That’s it.

Prayer

Gracious Father, thank you for always being in our lives. We mess up time and time again, but you never leave us. You never turn your back. You sacrificed your son so we can be together. Remind us to pick up the phone and call you. Calm our hearts as we may be less experienced or fearful of praying. In your name, Amen.