What Our Prayers Say About Us

The passing of my father reminded me again that life is fleeting.

One of the things I remember my Dad for is his distinct careful choosing of times to talk. Others would talk a lot. He would talk a little. Not because he had didn’t have an opinion or because he found the conversation dull, just because there was he wanted to talk when there was value to be added.

We don’t recollect every conversation we’ve ever had, understandably so. But there might be certain conversations that we do remember, that are outstanding because of the way they went. Yeah the emotion, yeah what was sensed in it and also the content of that conversation. What was said and was meant. It said something about us and it said something about the other person in the conversation. It brought us closer together. It drew us further apart. It left us the better. It left us more confused. We knew where we stood. We didn’t know what was going on anymore. All by that conversation.

That’s conversations between people. Do we reflect on that in our conversations with God? Some of us go through rituals and set prayers that we hope will be received by God. Will they? Some of us throw a tantrum at God and think our honesty should get a response from God? Should it? What kind of response will it get?

It’s not as if there aren’t outlines of prayers in scripture. There are plenty. It’s just about whether our prayers really reflect who we’re communicating with and why we’re communicating. If we’re really aware of the dynamic in the relationship.

The matter really came to my attention, when I caught myself praying and had to stop and ask myself if I knew who I was talking with. No wonder sometimes Jesus would point out that some are praying to themselves. It’s all well and good to be honest and express what’s really going on, but there’s a difference between that and just venting like a spoilt brat because things didn’t go your way. What’s the point in that? It’s where humility and a heart of thanksgiving can help ensure the dialogue with God is meaningful.

It’s worth considering from time to time what our prayers say about us.

(Photo by Etienne Boulanger on Unsplash)

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden