Ever Interceding

by Diana Brown

Praying Simply And Honestly

As I was traveling to Florida earlier this year, the clerk at the airport check-in told me my first flight would be delayed, and she encouraged me to rebook my connecting flight to a later one. At the time, the delay was only ten minutes, so I decided I would try to make my connection. If I didn’t make it, I figured then I would rebook for the later flight, which had 64 open seats.

When I arrived at the gate for my first flight, the 10-minute delay had turned into an hour. I went to talk to the agent at the gate, who encouraged me to keep my original itinerary, saying the pilot could make the time up in the air. If we landed according to the delayed schedule, however, I would only have 20 minutes to get off the plane and make my way to the second gate. I began to doubt, YET I still thought I could make the connecting flight.

James 4:2 ESV came to mind, which says: You do not have, because you do not ask.

I was going to ask & trust, ask & trust, ask & trust!

Praying Is Simple

Prayer does not have to be an arduous process. You and I often complicate it by thinking we must include all these elaborate words and phrases, yet it is simple. Do you think God wants us to use fancy words? Or do we believe that He listens more attentively to certain words? Absolutely NOT! He wants us to come as we are. God hears our heart.

My prayer was simple, “Lord, allow me to make it to the next gate. Lord, I am trusting You.” I prayed that over and over— claiming and believing that I would make it.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2 ESV).

His ears are open to their prayer (1 Peter 3:12b ESV).

Luke 18:40-41 (ESV) is a simple prayer between Jesus and a blind man: Jesus… asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.”

What is on your mind? What is in your heart? If you had to sum up what you want God to know in a sentence, what would it be?

DON’T COMPLICATE PRAYER

Prayer is a conversation with Jesus. Talk to Him as you would a friend or family member.

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.* Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:7-8 ESV).

Live Out Prayer Simply

Go to Jesus with faith with your request. Call on Him as He always listens.

“Lord, allow me to make it to the next gate.”

“Lord, I am trusting You.”

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV).

During my first flight, I asked the attendant if those with connecting flights could possibly get off the plane first. She agreed and announced as we approached the gate that passengers should allow those with connecting flights to get off first. The passengers were gracious to allow us to do so. Still, I continued to pray: “Lord, allow me to make it to the next gate. Lord, I am trusting You.”

The plane door was unlatched and opened. I was the third person off the plane and took off running. I had to go through two terminals and was short of breath halfway to the gate. Still, I kept praying, “Lord, allow me to make it to the next gate. Lord, I am trusting You.”

FINALLY, I made it to the next gate! I was thankful! Praising Jesus! He was listening! (By the way, I would have praised Him EVEN if I had not made it!)

GOD HAS A DESIGNATED PURPOSE AND PLAN FOR YOU IN THIS PLACE AND TIME.

Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear (Isaiah 65:24 ESV).

We sure can complicate prayer. BUT prayer is simple. Let us not make it difficult. The Lord wants us to connect with Him in prayer. Friend, run to Jesus, sit on His lap, rest in Him, talk to Him simply, and He will continually provide for you:

Thus says the Lord:

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

(Jeremiah 17:5, 7-8 ESV)

I challenge you to pray simply and honestly. Just give God your genuine words and thoughts. And you, like me, will see how well simple prayer works.

A few simple prayers:

• Thank you, Lord.

• I surrender, Lord.

• Lord, I trust You.

• Lord, have Your way.

• Help me, Lord.

• Your will be done, Father.

Your turn. Add some simple prayers of your own:

Remember, God-pleasing prayer is simple. In Matthew 6:7* (stated on the previous page), Jesus said, “for they think that they will be heard for their many words.” The Lord looks on our heart, not on fancy, eloquent words.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16: 7 ESV).

How are you going to pray simply and honestly moving forward?

Share with us how God guided you in a decision in your life. How did you pray? What verse or verses ministered to you? Send an email to Diana@womenworldleaders.com We love hearing your God stories!

He wants us to come as we are. God hears our heart.