“Do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.” (Matt. 6:7)
HAVE YOU EVER HAD A DISCUSSION that took much longer than it should have? When you left the discussion, perhaps you felt it was a total waste of time. The person could have spoken their piece in one minute, but they dragged it out forever. Conversations go much better and faster when people say what they mean. Perhaps you have had the experience of thinking, “When will you get to the point?” while listening to someone talk.
In her book Fierce Conversations, Susan Scott writes that “a fierce conversation is one in which we come out from behind ourselves into the conversation and make it real.”* By this definition, Jesus was telling us to have fierce conversations with God. When we pray, we must remember that we are praying to a real, personal God, not an artificial concept. In fact, we are conversing with the One who knows and loves us best. Jesus encouraged people to get real with God. We don’t have to add value to our prayers by making them lengthy. We don’t have to convince God of our requests by saying them a thousand times. Reciting prayers, singing songs, and memorizing verses are great practices. But we must realize that prayer itself is a conversation with God. He is eager to listen.
Tell God exactly what is on your mind today.
Jarod Osborne is the lead pastor of Warsaw Wesleyan Church. He is also the author of Jaded Faith (WPH).
© 2017 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
