When Though Givest

I was speaking about prayer last week and said for those of you still struggling with the idea of praying, especially out loud, I would have some suggestions (some food for thought) to help you with today.

Prayer is a funny thing. It was so critical to Jesus. He often went off alone to be with His Father and pray. Prayer should be just as essential to us. Last week I read two verses that remind us of that. “Pray about everything” (Philippians 4:6). “Never stop praying” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). And yet, so many of us still struggle with what to say. I feel it may be partly because we think we need a fancy vocabulary. For instance, when the explorer Sir Francis Drake sailed into Cadiz, Spain, in 1587, he prayed,

“O Lord God, when though givest to thy servants to endeavour any great matter, grant us also to know that it is not the beginning, but the continuing of the same unto the end, until it be thoroughly finished, which yieldeth the true glory; through him who for the finishing of they work laid down his life, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.” 

Who talks like that? I don’t. I am not even entirely sure what Drake is saying. However, this is an example of prayers we have heard over our lifetime, so, we think we have to be just as poetic. As if God only listens to Shakespearean English. Not so. God listened to a lot of prayers from a lot of people long before Shakespeare was born. When Peter began to sink after walking on the water for a bit, he cries out in Matthew 14:30, “Save me, Lord!” That’s not a fancy prayer at all.

Prayer is simply a conversation with the Lord. Just talk with Him. Don’t always ask Him for stuff. Just check in with Him. Thank Him. Praise Him. If you are still stuck, try this. Pray a psalm. This is especially helpful when you are asked to lead prayer. For instance, let’s look at Psalm 106 and go one verse at a time. Read verse one out loud, “Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” Then, say something like, “I praise You God for all the ways in which You bless us and thank You for loving us unconditionally.” Verse two; read, “Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise him enough?” Respond, “Lord, it is impossible to list all the ways in which You have worked miracles in our lives (mention some specific examples if you know them). We will never be able thank you enough.” Verse three; read, “There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right.” Respond, “Father, we pray that we would be people of justice. That we would seek to do Your will not our own. That we would always do what is right according to Your Word.” You can do this for all forty-eight verses or just three. The point is you are having a conversation with the Lord and that is prayer.  

Reading the text out loud verse by verse and then responding to it can be a great help with praying. This way, you do not have to come up with anything original. You simply pray God’s Word with your words. No “when though givest” needed.

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Remember to email your praises and petitions to southchurchprayer@gmail.com. We lift them up every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at 4:00 pm on Facebook Live.

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