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When Prayer Is Reduced to One Word

by | 64 comments

When Prayer Is Reduced to One Word

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 unattentive in my prayer life.

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

Since I began this journey, I’ve found myself becoming more focused in prayer life, more sensitive to God’s presence, and more aware of my dependence.

But over the last week something new has been happening and I didn’t notice it at first.

When Lent began, I struggled to pray three word prayers. I’d count words. Oops! And realized I’d added a fourth or fifth. As the days rolled into weeks, three word prayers became more natural. But now I’m finding that my prayers are becoming one word. Not out of force or effort but this natural expression to God.

This morning I’ve been praying some friends who are facing a challenge in their relationship. I know they’re talking about the issue sometime today diving into the messiness of hurt, pain, and miscommunication all with a hope of healing and restoration. My prayers for them began as three words. But slowly rolled into two then one. Heal. Restore. Reconcile. Understanding. Compassion. Grace. With each word, I naturally pause as the fullness of the word is heartfelt and passionate yet peaceful.

The single word is a petition, a request, a prayer. One that I offer with the full confidence that God hears and that God will answer.

My prayer life is far more simple than it’s ever been yet somehow feels more effective, more intentional, more potent.

What have you been learning during this season of Lent? And is there anything I can pray for you for?

 

Image from here.

64 Comments

  1. Gary David Stratton
    Gary David Stratton on March 28, 2011 at 11:14 am

    Margaret, Wow! Absolutely wonderful insights! Thank you, Gary

  2. Faith Hope &Cherrytea
    Faith Hope &Cherrytea on March 28, 2011 at 11:29 am

    learning intentionality in choices reduces distractions in God rltnshp..
    wrote of it & will be published in upcoming “cast” mag premiering april-
    @elation press on twitter…

    would appreciate prayer of ‘grace’ as i support friends who just found their daughter, 28, dead – friends since our daughters were babies together… funeral thurs. many thx – blogged as linked

  3. Margaret
    Margaret on March 29, 2011 at 2:27 pm

    Grace. Strength. Healing. Comfort. Hope. Amen.

  4. Neal
    Neal on March 31, 2011 at 11:27 am

    Triple AMEN on the article. Thanks, thanks, thanks…

  5. Margaret
    Margaret on March 31, 2011 at 11:30 am

    Neal,

    Thanks for the encouragement. Blessings to you this Lent season!

  6. Casey Zachary
    Casey Zachary on March 31, 2011 at 2:46 pm

    this is kind of a big deal. kind of an awesome big deal.

  7. Casey Zachary
    Casey Zachary on March 31, 2011 at 2:48 pm

    you could pray for peace and stability in Haiti, as results to a contentious presidential election are to be announced soon, amid slow progress in rebuilding after the earthquake.

  8. Cindy Topping
    Cindy Topping on April 1, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    I had a season in life when my prayer time was- Help.

  9. Margaret
    Margaret on April 1, 2011 at 1:43 pm

    Cindy,
    Just one time? 🙂

  10. Katherine Jones
    Katherine Jones on April 2, 2011 at 6:52 am

    Love this. Want to do it and share it. Our prayer-life would be all the better for it. Thank you!

  11. April
    April on April 4, 2011 at 7:22 pm

    Shared this on facebook, thanks to Casey’s link on Real Hope for Haiti. I love this idea, especially for thoseof us who process our thoughts verbally. It does require so much more focus. Thank you!

  12. aeg
    aeg on August 1, 2022 at 2:43 pm

    Please, pray for Jason, Michele, Cale, and their families’ salvation. Jason doesn’t believe God exists. Michele doesn’t think he needs to have a personal relationship. Cale believes he should live for his pleasure. Please pray that they are saved, they return to Stacey, Tecla, and I, and we follow God together. Thank you!

  13. Margaret
    Margaret on August 5, 2022 at 4:15 pm

    Praying for Jason, Michele, Cale, and their families to come to know Jesus and his love for them!

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