Help, Thanks, Wow

A lot of us don't pray.  We know we should pray -- but a lot of us don't pray.  Why?

Frankly I think it's because we assume we have to use a lot of words to pray, religious words, ‘preacher words.’  But effective prayer doesn’t require a lot of any words.  Frankly, the best prayers are simple, direct, heartfelt.   

The shouts of the Israelites encircling Jericho (Joshua 6:15-21) are ‘exhibit A,’ but there are other biblical examples.  Consider the book of Acts; why there are six prayers within Luke's account of the early church, the majority of which are simple and short.  For example the prayer of Stephen for his enemies in Acts 7:59-60, is only 13 words, the prayer of Paul for instruction in Acts 9:5-6, is only 12 words, and the prayer of Peter for the resurrection of Tabitha in Acts 9:40, is only 2 words.   Sure, there are long prayers in the Bible (e.g. the prayer of Solomon dedicating the temple in I Kings 8 (I Kings 8:23-25) at 1,050 words; the prayer of Habakkuk petitioning for revival in Habakkuk 1 (Habakkuk 1:1-5) at 474 words) -- but overall scripture advises: K.I.S.S your prayers: keep it simple saints!  

Recently Anne Lamott ‘pushed the envelope’ on this truth.  Why Lamott advises in a recent book (http://www.amazon.com/Help-Thanks-Wow-Essential-Prayers/dp/1594631298/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359383079&sr=8-1&keywords=anne+lamont), the best prayers are often one word prayers; to be precise, three one word prayers -- help, thanks, wow.   When you get up in the morning, Lamott counsels pray:  Help! -- help me Lord as I move through this day.  Then as you see God in your day, pray:  Thanks! -- thanks Lord for the wisdom, the strength that has come.  Finally before you go to bed pray:  Wow!  -- wow Lord, as I think over my day, you are sovereign, you are faithful, you can be trusted after all.   

It’s fascinating to note these three words in the prayer life of Job, of all people (if ever there was a person who had reason to 'give-up,' to not pray, it was Job).  Why throughout the book of Job, Job petitions for help.  Help, Lord! “…remember me…You will call and I will answer you…My offenses will be sealed up in a bag -- you will cover my sin…”  (Job 14:13-17). Job also gives thanks.  Thanks, Lord! “…the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, may the name of the Lord be praised…”  (Job 1:21).  And finally Job lifts up wow.  Wow, Lord! “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted…”  (Job 42:2).    

And so yes:  long prayers are sometimes needed, but K.I.S.S. prayers are often best.  So there really is no excuse not to prayer.   For in 'any and all' circumstances, there's at least one word, an appropriate word, a needed word,  that can be lifted to the Lord -- Help! Thanks! Wow!