Until recently, I have never truly understood why The Lord said "when you pray, pray like this". It's never been hard for me to pray. I always have stuff for which to be thankful, and I certainly always have stuff for which I ask from God. It's easy for me to be thankful or specific about my needs or protection for my kids, family, etc. I have a sovereign God to whom I can go for anything under the sun. How can that be hard?
In the past year, more times than I care to count, I have honestly not known what to pray. Speechless. My heart cries out but I haven't known the words to say. Matthew 6 has been such a blessing to me. When the words haven't come, it has shared my heart. When I couldn't come up with what to ask The Lord to do, His prayer has been more than sufficient. He tells us how to pray and the Holy Spirit hears our groans. So thankful that He knew what I would need.
“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. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:7-15 ESV)
