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Why I Gave Up Prayer

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#LiveWonderstruck Don't miss out on this amazing Bible study by Margaret Feinberg!

A few years ago, I gave up prayer.

Okay, maybe not all prayer, but long-winded prayer for the forty days of Lent.

I had heard a sermon by our friend, Jay, which highlighted the importance of praying simple but potent prayers.

Mulling over this concept for weeks, I realized how mindless I had become in my own prayer life. I teetered from sounding like a gushing four-year-old who talks in an eternal run-on sentence to stuttering over my words in an attempt to sound more eloquent and persuasive.

My prayers had moved from simple and potent to unspecific and inattentive.

And while I felt free to express every desire, whim, ache, and need to God—the lack of specificity and attention was indicative of how cold my heart had grown toward prayer.

I no longer saw prayer as transformative—let alone wonderful.

So for forty days, I committed to giving up lengthy prayers—to limit my prayers to three words.

Help me Lord.
Heal oh Jesus.
Give grace abundant.
Grant strength now.
Thank you, God.

This was no over-night feat. I had grown accustomed to long-winded requests, ramblements with God. But after just a few weeks, I began to notice subtle changes.

Focus.
Intentionality.
Sensitivity.
Dependence.

Three word prayers are a steady reminder that there is nothing I can do to force God’s hand. As I offer up my humble prayers each syllable reminds me that all I have, all I am, is dependent on him.

In three words.

God, will you hear my three words? God, will you answer my three words? God, will you respond?

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 stringing together arguments and ideas for why God should or should not do something. Any sense of response isn’t based on my persuasiveness or eloquence.

Everything depends on God.

While I’ve since returned to a less-limited prayer time, I’ll sometimes return to the practice of three word prayers. It anchors me to his response, not my effort. It declares my dependence on him, not on myself.

And it roots me once again in the wonder that is prayer.

Live Wonderstruck! Don't miss out on this amazing Bible study with Margaret Feinberg!We’re exploring the wonder of prayer during the online Summer Bible Study. Join us this week as we dive into the prayers of Jesus, tactics on how to pray, and understanding the mystery of prayer.

Your #LiveWonderstruck challenge this week?

  • SIMPLIFY. Condense your prayers to three words for today. Notice how much more intentional you become in your prayer life.
  • WATCH. Session 4: The Wonder of Prayer on the Wonderstruck DVD (18 min).
  • WRITE. Complete Week 4: The Wonder of Prayer in the Wonderstruck Member Workbook (pages 80-105)
  • READ. Read “.005 Forgotten Longings” and “.006 Treasure Hunting in Africa” in the Wonderstruck book
  • INTERACT. Share your #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK moments you encounter this week on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Leave your thoughts at MargaretFeinberg.com.
  • GATHER. Set a time to meet with your small group face-to-face, schedule a Skype date with your long-distance friends, and join the online community on Wednesday, June 29th at MargaretFeinberg.com.

What is your three-word prayer today?

44 Comments

  1. Melissa
    Melissa on June 27, 2016 at 7:43 am

    My three word prayer for today is “Thank You God”. 🙂

  2. Pamela Haddix
    Pamela Haddix on June 27, 2016 at 3:29 pm

    Great thoughts, Margaret. It reminds me of Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, “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.”

    Thanks for that reminder! Here’s a post of mine from last fall based on that verse: How does listening to God fit into my worship? http://pamelahaddix.com/2015/09/08/how-should-listening-to-god-fit-into-my-worship/

    So my three words would be, “I’m listening, God.”

    Thanks, Margaret!

  3. Fiona
    Fiona on June 27, 2016 at 10:03 pm

    My prayer has been “God, I hurt”. I have felt such bad emotional pain and hopelessness latey

  4. Margaret
    Margaret on June 28, 2016 at 7:37 am

    Beautiful. Hugs!

  5. Margaret
    Margaret on June 28, 2016 at 7:39 am

    Prayers for you, Fiona! He can be trusted. Hugs!

  6. Margaret
    Margaret on June 28, 2016 at 7:40 am

    So well said, Pamela! May we all learn to listen when we pray. Hugs!

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