I’ve read a few books about prayer over the years, and my favorite quote is from a Bill Hybels book back in the 80’s or 90’s called “Too Busy Not To Pray.” He says:
“Don’t pray hard. Pray easy.
Prayer doesn’t do it. God does it.”
I was reminded of this as I was reading & praying through Jesus’ teaching about prayer in His ‘Sermon on the Mount’…Let’s pray like this:
“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the religious buildings where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this:
“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
