Some of us feel thoroughly inadequate as “pray-ers”. We wish we could pray beautifully and consistently and effectively, and we know we are not much good at it. But how “good” does one have to be to come to God? Take a look at these prayers:
“Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
“Lord, my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.”
“Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!“ (Matt. 8:2, 6, 25, NIV).
In each case the situation looked irremediable, but the petitioner recognized that there was One who might possibly do something about it. They saw the need. They saw their own helplessness. They saw the Lord. They made a simple statement to Him. That sufficed.
When Amy Carmichael found her cabin on shipboard infested with cockroaches she “went and told Jesus.” Just such a little thing as placing a situation before Him has a calming effect. Then we can go on and do whatever the next thing may be.
Jesus says, “Come to me. . . I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28, NIV). What a foolish thing it is to hesitate on the grounds that we don’t know how to make fine prayers.
**Excerpt originally published in Guided by God’s Promises, pg. 289-290.