The Words of Prayer – Sunday, March 08, 1981
Prayer is man’s way of communicating with the Lord. He has instructed us in its use, even gave us examples to follow. And through experience we have learned there are many forms of prayer. But the most common—and perhaps the most difficult—is to pray with words.
Why words—those often clumsy sounds that seem to cloud as much as they communicate? “Words (are) but wind,”1 said Samuel Butler.
Why should we need to speak words to the Lord? He’s ever mindful of us. He knows our needs better than we know ourselves.
Perhaps it’s because we need the words, not God. The discipline of trying to put feelings and ideas into words can focus our attention and our thoughts. Whispering quiet thanks unto the Lord can have a humbling effect upon our souls. Enumerating blessings can bring gratitude and speaking our requests can help us separate our idle from real needs.
Our words in prayer should be the best we have to offer. But whatever they are is good enough. The lisping murmur of a child’s first prayer finds equal welcome in the heavens with the poet’s polished supplication.
Of course, smooth, flowing phrases from the lips and not the heart are not a prayer. Vain repetitions were condemned by Jesus and certainly His model prayer does not contain a wasted word. The phrases are as clear and simple as a child’s recitation but their depth has never yet been plumbed by the most profound philosopher.
In sixty-six words the Lord’s prayer speaks praises unto God and links up earth and heaven. It speaks of earthly things like daily bread, temptations and our tendency to hold a grudge against each other.
It closes with a promise that the woe and wickedness that typify this world will one day pass away and heaven take their place.
As it was to those who listened centuries ago so should it be to us a worthy pattern for our prayers. For there is in all the sacred writings no more beautiful example of how words can take our thoughts to heaven than the Lord’s prayer.
1 The Poetical Works of Samuel Butler, Crowder, London 1803.
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March 08, 1981
Broadcast Number 2,690