There are no Bad Prayers
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐁𝐚𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬
As I’ve stepped back into ministry leadership, I’ve noticed there’s a huge resistance to praying out loud for a group.
.
Nothing brings you back to those memories of hoping the teacher doesn’t call on you quicker than a Small Group Leader asking if anyone would like to pray for the group.
For the love of everything holy (pun intended) DON’T MAKE EYE CONTACT!
I totally get it.
Most of us struggle talking to the Creator of the Universe as it is when we’re alone, much less out loud for other ears to join our Inner Critic in analyzing the words.
The overarching thought seems to be, “𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺.”
And as Christians, in our desire to encourage one another, we’ll sometimes comment after someone prays, “𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳!”
But in a way, that kind of makes it even harder for the rest of us.
Because if THAT was a “Good Prayer”, then does that mean there are . . . 𝘽𝙖𝙙 Prayers?
Guess what? Like all Good Parents, 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧. He 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 this would be an area we would struggle with, so he TAUGHT us how — and what — to pray.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝’𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫, 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧:
Acknowledge His Holiness Seek His Will in your life & in our world Ask for what you need Forgive Us Help us forgive others Keep us from Temptation Protect Us Acknowledge Who He is (again)↑ That covers pretty much everything, right?
Like all things, you will feel more comfortable (note: NOT “get better”) praying in front of others the more you do it. Practice.
Also, my own personal tip: Knowing the Bible helps. Claim His promises, thank Him for those Promises, repeat your favorite passages as a prayer. (ie. “𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘸𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘸𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘶𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘶𝘴.”)
It’s not quite as important WHAT we pray as it is THAT we pray. Coming to Him in prayer is the important thing.
God’s not grading us on our prayers. And chances are, no one else is either. (They’re just grateful THEY didn’t have to pray out loud.) 
: Mukwonago (WI) High School Football coach, Mike Gneuwich, praying with the team & spectators.
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