Trying Something New

It’s Watercooler Wednesday and I wanted to share this. I realize that when I pray I often do all the talking. It’s almost like I’m expecting God to be sitting there with a pad and a pen writing down all the incredibly spiritual and astounding things I come up with. I often find myself distracted by my search for the next “phrase” or “word” that is going to capture God’s attention and unlock his power in my life.

With that said I have been working on simply praying a short phrase over and over in my mind and then, get this, just listening.

Saint John Climacus once wrote…

“When you pray do not try to express yourself in fancy words, for often it is the simple repetitious phrases of a little child that our father in heaven finds most irresistible.

My prayer this morning was simple. I just repeated over and over “God guide me”.

So if you were to reduce your prayer to a short phrase today, what would it be?

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61 Responses to “Trying Something New”

  1. Lori April 30, 2008 at 11:39 am #

    Pete, once again you have made me really stop and think about a very important part of my life. I often pray in a very conversational manner, as if God is right beside me, with nothing better to do than listen to my rambling. Then, I am prone to ramble so much that I lose my train of thought and sometimes have to start all over again. Talk about counter-productive…short phrases, then listen. I can do this. Thanks for really rocking my world lately. Apparently, I’m in desperate need of a change.

  2. just me April 30, 2008 at 12:02 pm #

    Mine woudl be ” Use me.”

  3. Julie P April 30, 2008 at 12:33 pm #

    “Change me.”

  4. singlegirlsearching April 30, 2008 at 12:39 pm #

    Great point.
    My prayers tend to focus on others more than myself – and I realized part of it was I felt I was ‘doing ok’ and chose to pray for others who I ‘knew’ needed more guidance! HA!

    Now I’m careful to start with the Adoration and Thanksgiving prior to beginning my requests. When focusing on how amazing and awesome God is at the start of my prayer time… it’s much easier for me to put my requests in the proper perspective.

    As always, thanks for sharing your heart with others.

    singlegirlsearching.wordpress.com

  5. Emily April 30, 2008 at 12:40 pm #

    Quiet me.

  6. Tommy Sircy April 30, 2008 at 12:43 pm #

    I’m with you on that one, Emily. It’s inventory day at work, “calm me, so I can be receptive.”

  7. jon April 30, 2008 at 12:46 pm #

    Thank You Father!!!

  8. Noodle April 30, 2008 at 1:23 pm #

    Save Me from myself.

    What a dramatic thing to say for a first comment… :P Your blogs are great. Thanks for letting your brain out on the internet.

  9. Jennifer April 30, 2008 at 1:43 pm #

    “give me patience”. The children are testing me today!

  10. Aaron April 30, 2008 at 1:52 pm #

    “Thank You.”

  11. Christi D. April 30, 2008 at 1:58 pm #

    Break me, Lord.

  12. Chad Jarnagin April 30, 2008 at 1:59 pm #

    “Forgive my unbelief… I will trust You Lord”.

  13. anne jackson April 30, 2008 at 2:00 pm #

    awaken me… (and contrary to popular belief, i don’t mean send me some caffeine in an unexpected way!) :)

  14. jay hardwick April 30, 2008 at 2:01 pm #

    “Make me generous.”

  15. Harold McKee April 30, 2008 at 2:11 pm #

    Please show me.

  16. ncarnes April 30, 2008 at 2:14 pm #

    “Keep me Hungry”

  17. Bill Pershing April 30, 2008 at 2:24 pm #

    ok…I am going to be the weirdo…

    Break my heart with the things that break yours…

  18. Brian Alexander April 30, 2008 at 2:36 pm #

    “Use Me, where YOU want me today”

  19. Cindy April 30, 2008 at 2:41 pm #

    Help me to understand and give me patience and an open heart to hear the answer.

  20. Joe Louthan April 30, 2008 at 2:41 pm #

    Show me your glory.

  21. Jody April 30, 2008 at 2:44 pm #

    Sobriety, today!

  22. Ash April 30, 2008 at 2:47 pm #

    Quiet my heart, so I can hear you.

  23. Pete Wilson April 30, 2008 at 2:51 pm #

    Hey Bill your not weird. At least, not for praying that.

  24. Lisa April 30, 2008 at 2:53 pm #

    Remind me it’s not about me–it’s all about you!

  25. Crystal Renaud April 30, 2008 at 3:06 pm #

    “Get me out of the way.”

  26. Robin Pippin April 30, 2008 at 3:36 pm #

    Jesus, keep me near your heart.

  27. jonsquared April 30, 2008 at 3:44 pm #

    Excellent post! Mine would be, “Lord, please give my parents strength.” They’re both going through some pretty tough times health-wise.

  28. johnhobbs April 30, 2008 at 3:44 pm #

    Awesome post, Pete! What He has to say is so much more important that anything I could say. I want to hear Him!

    My pryer today: “Father, today I want to see You and where You are working so I can partner with You.”

  29. Holly Black April 30, 2008 at 3:54 pm #

    “Give me wisdom.”

  30. the wife April 30, 2008 at 4:00 pm #

    bring me closer to you

  31. Judi Free.com April 30, 2008 at 4:01 pm #

    I believe you, I really believe you.

  32. fp April 30, 2008 at 4:09 pm #

    i’m with you on this one: “God, guide me.”

  33. Susanne April 30, 2008 at 4:20 pm #

    Burn me up, Lord…keep refining me until You see Your own reflection in my life!

  34. Brian April 30, 2008 at 5:06 pm #

    rock me to the core!

  35. Lorelei King April 30, 2008 at 5:23 pm #

    Dear God, I have a problem . . . it’s me.

  36. Rachel Rowell April 30, 2008 at 5:57 pm #

    ” Just help me be faithful in the small things.”

  37. Audra April 30, 2008 at 6:17 pm #

    I always say Brennan Manning’s breath prayer “Abba, I belong to you”

  38. Bill Renfrew April 30, 2008 at 6:23 pm #

    I want to abide. Help!

  39. alece April 30, 2008 at 6:51 pm #

    help.

  40. Megan April 30, 2008 at 6:55 pm #

    Today…..”Protect me Father”

  41. Aaron April 30, 2008 at 8:30 pm #

    Thy will be done.

  42. John Senin April 30, 2008 at 9:07 pm #

    “Help, we need you!”

    Just poppin in here, good job on your wordrpess site. My prayer comes out of seeing alot of hardship in African missions this year.

  43. Chilly... April 30, 2008 at 10:24 pm #

    “teach me how to die”
    (a galatians 2:20 thing)

  44. tam April 30, 2008 at 11:06 pm #

    “less of me…”

  45. Paul Fowler April 30, 2008 at 11:46 pm #

    “let others see you in me”

  46. Heidi May 1, 2008 at 1:32 am #

    OPEN my ears.. STIR my heart .. CLOSE my lips..

  47. Jessica May 1, 2008 at 2:29 am #

    I just say ” God you already know whats on my mind and I can’t get it out so please just take it” I love to pray but I don’t think Im good at it, or do I do it enough… I think I do talk like a little kid most of the time!

  48. eklektisch May 1, 2008 at 3:29 am #

    I’ve been praying “Make me a servant.” It’s a good song too. Thank God for making us realize the obstacles we put in our own path!

  49. murphy24p May 1, 2008 at 3:46 am #

    Be my source and comfort.

  50. Emily Mea May 1, 2008 at 12:29 pm #

    Be my strength.

  51. Michael May 1, 2008 at 2:27 pm #

    Use me… help me… teach me.

  52. April May 1, 2008 at 7:23 pm #

    Recently, my husband and I have been working through some deep sin issues in his life. I found myself praying over and over again, “By the transforming of his my mind” Over and over I would cry that to the Lord, and then one afternoon, while driving alone and praying that prayer, my heart sensed the Lord urging me to pray, “transform my mind” I knew, that for me to make it through this season of trial, that my mind would need to be transformed as much, if not more than his. So, now every morning and through the day, I ask the Lord, “Please transform my mind”

  53. amberpeace May 2, 2008 at 6:32 am #

    Fill me with grace past comprehension

  54. Starwoodgal May 2, 2008 at 5:15 pm #

    Found this on http://www.m-w.com
    Main Entry: 1lis·ten
    Pronunciation: \ˈli-sən\
    Function: verb
    Inflected Form(s): lis·tened; lis·ten·ing \ˈlis-niŋ, ˈli-sən-iŋ\
    Etymology: Middle English listnen, from Old English hlysnan; akin to Sanskrit śroṣati he hears, Old English hlūd loud
    Date: before 12th century
    transitive verb
    archaic : to give ear to : hear
    intransitive verb
    1: to pay attention to sound
    2: to hear something with thoughtful attention : give consideration
    3: to be alert to catch an expected sound
    — lis·ten·er \ˈlis-nər, ˈli-sən-ər\ noun

    I especially like number two “to hear somthing with thoughtful attention : give consideration
    “. As parents we tell our children to listen to us for guidance. Maybe I need to practice what I’ve preached a little more often. :)

    (V-8 knuckle to my own forehead)

  55. gsmartin May 7, 2008 at 11:58 pm #

    Thanks for the Good question.

    It would be a paraphrase of part of the Lord’s Prayer

    … Father, your kingdom in my life, in all I do and say. …

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