As I shared last week, 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.
What I’ve discovered since last Wednesday is just how much three word prayers force me to focus. I pause, selecting my words carefully, picking out each word. The result is handcrafted prayers.
Instead of Thank You Oh Lord, I delete the “Oh” and discover I’ve prayed the same prayer but somehow more focused, more intentional.
Instead of Help My Dear Friend Elizabeth, I rework the words to simply ask, “Jesus, Help Elizabeth”.
The shift is subtle but significant as I find myself more focused, more intentional, more engaged as I pray.
What have you been learning during this season of Lent?
*Photo courtesy of here
thanks for this margaret,
i have been learning that my giving something up (pop, snacks, etc.) is not nearly as life-giving if it is not coupled with some sort of giving to. i give up pop, in order to give myself to reading, or prayer, or shoveling my neighbors driveway, or folding the laundry for my wife, etc. the disciple is good, but even better when that discipline allows me to serve someone else. imagine that–discipline leading to discipleship.
peace to you,
scott
Hm, thanks for this challenging perspective. I’ve been tending to write out my prayers – in fact, working through Writing to God through this season. But the idea of 3-word prayers resonates with me.
(It’s kind of weird, such rich thoughts on prayer – 1 comment. Thoughts on a book we’ve barely gotten acquainted with . . . 40+.)
Interesting thinking…the title of this post got my attention. Anyway, something for me to think about.