First when I am praying I need to remember these truths that God is my Father who loves me and wants to spend time listening to me. He can handle even my darkest shames and embraces me even when He doesn’t give me a yes to every ask. It is comforting that there is nothing I can do that will lessen His love for me. His love is like that of a parent and is unconditional. Praying and reading His word keeps me close to Him. It gives me a better chance to hear His voice and allows Him to guide my steps. Having a conversation with Him is simple when I am reminded of who it is I am speaking with……..my father.
This is a perfect reminder of how to pray and Jesus gave it to me in His Word. Don’t start with what I need but with who God is…..my Father. 
When I pray and I am finding it hard to find the right words, I can always pray the prayer He gave me that has all that I need to say. He wants me to come to Him with praise, repentance, direction requests, and to temper those requests in His will. I love when I am in church and the whole congregation recites the Lord’s Prayer.
Another way to pray is to pray the Bible. Especially the Psalms are a way to pray when I can’t find the words. Years ago I lead an incredible group of middle school Young Life girls and we came up with three word prayers. It was a powerful, simple way to pray. Each of us had a prayer and we prayed them for one another. Mine was under one roof. You see Ronnie B and I were separated at the time. My heart’s desire was to renew our relationship and love and live under one roof. God granted that prayer that these young ladies deligently prayed for me. What an act of love. Many of them are still in my life and are one of the greatest gifts God has given me.
The Lord’s Prayer is set up like this. But Shawn shared this simple way of directing my prayers. First praise, then ask for forgiveness, then bring my requests in His will, and finally ask for direction for Him to show me the way. I love that.
Once a friend believed that she needed a certain friend to pray for a frightening circumstance. She believed that this lady’s prayers would somehow be more powerful or be heard above her prayers or mine. The truth is each of us can connect with our Father and He listens and loves all of us. Our prayers don’t have to be in a certain place. They don’t have to be elegant or have a certain cadence to them. They can be as simple as three words. God loves each of us and hears our prayers in all languages, locations, and wants to spend time in conversation with us. What a comforting thought that is.
Please consider clicking the link and listening to Pastor Shawn Johnson. He is a powerful speaker and the bonus is that he is relatable and very good looking. You are welcome ladies. lol
In Him,
Joyful
8-20-25
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