I’ve been thinking a lot about Lent this year and wondering how best to walk through the next seven weeks. I know people who are giving up Twitter, chocolate, and a long list of self-indulgent or addictive activities and foods.
As I’ve reflected, I’ve decided to give up prayer for Lent.
Okay, maybe not all prayer, but lengthy prayers in my personal time with God.
I recently heard a sermon by our friend, Jay, which highlighted the importance of praying simple but potent prayers. As I’ve been mulling over this concept, I realize how mindless I’ve become in my own prayer life. Yes, I feel free to express every desire, whim, ache and need to God–which is a good thing!–except that at times my prayers sound like a gushing four-year-old who talks in an eternal run on sentence. I realize that over time I’ve been 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.
Help me Lord. Heal oh Jesus. Give grace abundant. Grant strength now. Thank you, God.
I’m hopeful the discipline will help me be more thoughtful in my prayer, more strategic in the things I ask God, more focused on Jesus, more ready to listen, more prepared to unleash heartfelt worship and gratitude on Easter morning.*
How are you preparing your own heart during this season of Lent?
(Please note that this will be in my personal times–so if you see me praying in more than three words in public, extend grace please. )
*Photo courtesy of here
I once spent a week praying only the Lord’s Prayer.
Those are some powerful words, I must say!
Gives me chills. Less talking, more listening.
Anne Lamott said that the two best prayers in the world are, “Help me, help me, help me!” and “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I think the third best prayer in the world is, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”
That is awesome thinking. My husband and I are doing a Daniel Fast for a spiritual and physical reset—and I’m cutting down on TV for a mental reset. I’m sure I’ll be using a lot of three word prayers, most of them being, “Help me, Lord!”
I totally agree with fasting a bad “habit” or attitude for Lent. I am fasting judgmental opinions of the actions of others. I am sure it will connect me to God more because I am going to need all his help!
I just issued a Lent Challenge to several people who serve in the Worship Arts ministry in the church where I work. This probably doesn’t seem like much, but I work in an Independent Christian Church that is proud of its Restoration Movement heritage…(which basically means we don’t celebrate the Church year at all.) It has been absolutely inspiring to see the things people are sacrificing in order to prepare for the celebration of Easter. Our family is giving up television. I plan to work on the art of conversation with my husband and play more Candyland with my 4-yr-old daughter…in the midst of crying, “Help me!”
Great Lent resolve…. truly less is more!
I think it was John Wimber who used to always say, “Lord help me right now!” was his most-prayed prayer!
Keep on doing the great stuff!
Laura,
Love it–I think it’s so neat you’re encouraging people to make sacrifices for Lent. That’s awesome.
As a family, at dinner, we are reading “Reliving the Passion” by Walter Wangerin Jr. A great book of meditations on the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. My kids are young: 4 & 7, but we had a great discussion last night about what lent is and the parable of the rich man who built bigger barns only to be called a fool by God (the first devotional reading). I am always amazed at how much they understand and how easily they are able to apply it to their own lives.
We also purchased an advent/lent wreath from http://www.aholyexperience.com. We light a candle each night and move it and a “figurine” (for lack of a better word) of Jesus carrying the cross one step closer each night. My boys love this and I love the fact that I am ever thinking about Christ’s journey to the cross in this season. Check out this blog entry http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/02/how-to-prepare-a-family-for-easter-lent/
Dawn,
That’s a great practice! Blessings, m.
Wow! What a catchy title. I saw this in my google reader and had to come read it at the main site! I really like that phrase “praying simple but potent prayers.” That’s something that the Prayer Book has helped me with. I’ve started praying more of a collect style prayer as opposed to listing every single thing that needs help in my life and others’ lives.
This will be some food for thought over the next 38 days of Lent(since I didn’t see this til Friday).
-Jeremiah
Jeremiah,
That’s really cool…. I’m encouraged the Prayer Book has been such a blessing.