As I was reading in Ecclesiastes today I came across this passage in Chapter 5:
“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, Do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few… Many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.” Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, 7
This passage just reminded me of the three simple prayers that I teach people as they begin their communion with God through prayer. We are reminded in scripture that many words are meaningless. Jesus reinforces this teaching when He said:
“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.” Matthew 6:7
I have been in those prayer meetings where people stand up and make their long speeches, sounding more like sermons than actual prayers. And whatever Spirit that was flowing seems to evaporate in an instance.
So I want to teach you three simple prayers, that any believer can use no matter how long you’ve been a believer. There is something about the simplicity that will make some think they lack power, and it is possible to create meaningless repetition. But if you let these prayers become the cry of your heart, then they won’t be meaningless.
The first prayer is one word:
“Help”
This prayer seems so simple but may be the greatest prayer you can pray to an all-powerful creator. A cry for “Help” moves you out of the power position in your life and puts God into the power position in your life. It’s an acknowledgement that you don’t have all the answers nor all the resources to run your life. And you are inviting the greatest power source, the greatest love source to step in to your life and the situations of your life. You want to make changes to your life, ask God for “Help!”
This cry for “Help” humbles you before God and put you in the position to receive His grace. James wrote that God is drawn to the humble.
The second prayer is two words:
“More LORD”
Once you’ve experienced God’s help, your spirit cry’s out, “I gotta get me some more of that.” That’s when you heart and your lips should cry out, “More LORD!” And it works, I experience something great and cry out, that was so good, I need more. And then guess what, I get more! Ask and you shall receive, knock and it shall be opened, seek and you shall find. Why stop at a little bit of God in your life, keep crying out for more.
The third prayer is three words:
“I’m all Yours”
Once you’ve experienced God’s help, then decided that you needed more, you come to this place where you commit to stay in His continuous flow. You’ve experienced a little bit of God, then more of God, and you decide I want all of God. So you commit yourself to Him fully with, “I’m all Yours!” It’s a place of total surrender, but a place of total security. You’re not secure in the things you can provide but in the things that God will provide, Jehovah-Jireh. This is the goal place where you are all His and He is all yours.
These three simple prayers can change your life. But they can be prayed out of rote repetition, but out of a heart cry to pray simple prayers before a mighty God. Many words are meaningless, so let your words be few. I just want to reread the opening passage from Ecclesiastes:
“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, Do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few… Many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.” Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, 7
Enjoy your time with the LORD, just because your prayer is shorter, doesn’t mean your prayer time should be shorter. Take your time with the LORD and stand in awe of God, go near and listen!
Grace and Peace!
