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Lesson Two from Why I Gave Up Prayer for Lent

by | 40 comments

Lesson Two from Why I Gave Up Prayer for Lent

As I shared earlier this month,  I’ve decided to give up prayer for Lent.

Okay, maybe not all prayer, but lengthy prayers in my personal time with God because I realize how mindless, increasingly unspecific, and inattentive in my prayer life.

That’s why I’m giving up prayer for Lent. Or at least long prayers. For the next 40 days, I’m committed to only offering God three word prayers.

Lately I’ve been noticing a dependence on God increasing in my life. The three word prayers are a steady reminder that there is nothing I can do to force God’s hand. I’m utterly dependent on God. As I offer up my humble prayers each syllable reminds me that all I have, all I am, is dependent on God.

Three words.

God, will you hear my three words? God, will you answer my three words? God, will you respond? I wonder.

Any sense of God’s response isn’t based on me, my passion, my desire, my longing. Any sense of God’s response isn’t based on my stringing together of arguments and ideas for why God should or should not do something. (Though I still think “Please Help Japan” and “Stop Nuclear Leak” are not just important prayers but ones I’m hopeful God will answer). Any sense of response isn’t based on my persuasiveness or eloquence. Everything is dependent on God.

And though I feel weak, stripped of persuasiveness, emptied of eloquence, I’m starting to like it here. Dependent on God. More fully. More wholly.

What have you been learning during this season of Lent?

 

*Photo courtesy of here

40 Comments

  1. Heinz D. Schmidt
    Heinz D. Schmidt on March 21, 2011 at 10:02 am

    The Greator of the universe calls me his child-what a blessing1 What a privilege!What a responsibility!Endure hardship as discipline;God is treating you as sons.For what son is not disciplined by his father?There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to one hope when you were called-one Lord, one faith,one baptism;oneGod and the Father of all,who is over all and trough all andin all.How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,that we should be called children of God!Praying is the most powerful tool in christian live.God Bless You!

  2. Megan
    Megan on March 25, 2011 at 3:02 pm

    I LOVE THIS! What a great idea! I’m VERY inclined to talk mindlessly AT God rather than honestly bring my needs TO him… I need to try this.

  3. Megan
    Megan on March 28, 2011 at 6:56 am

    I think this is a brilliant idea, one that I’d also like to implement in my own Lenten prayer.

    Also, thank you for the prayers for Japan. I’m currently living in Japan and I have friends who have had to flee their homes and leave everything behind to be safe. It’s heartwarming and reassuring to know that people around the world are sending up prayers for all of the struggling people and volunteers here. Thank you.

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