Simply Pray

So, if you were in church or on Facebook Live this week, you may have stayed awake for the sermon, “Help!” I didn’t catch anybody sleeping in the sanctuary, if you’re curious. But nobody will blame you if you nod off because you’re watching in bed or on the couch with a big pillow. You know, it’s real life. We get it. 
 
I was riffing a little on Anne Lamott, and I’ve read almost everything she’s written. She’s a good, solid Presbyterian from the San Francisco area. Love her! Love her take on real life. Love her books. You can’t go wrong. 
 
IMO, one of the best books is Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers. 10 bucks on Kindle. It’s a quick read, easy to digest, and simple. That’s the whole point!
 
Probably the biggest takeaway is this: Prayer is a simple thing between us and God. Between you and God. Between me and God. Big words not required. Flowery language not required. Thee’s and thou’s not required. 
 
Simply—pray.
Get to it.
Just. Say. It.
 
She’s building on an idea from one of her earlier books. She tells a story about her prayer life and always seems to find herself coming back home to a couple basics:
Help me, help me, help me.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
 
So, now she boils it all down to three essential prayers—wait for it…
 
Help.
Thanks.
Wow.
 
That’s it.
Simple.
 
When you can’t put two words together, just pick one: 
Help.
Thanks.
Wow.
 
Petition God for assistance. 
Express gratitude for a blessing.
Sit in awe of God’s massive peace and power. 
 
Simply pray.
 
I do think it helps to get comfortable or get quiet or get in the zone, wherever you can find peace—however you do that. But it’s absolutely not necessary. When you’ve got the time and space, you might go for the Lord’s Prayer—which might be the perfect prayer. Even Jesus says, “When you pray,” pray like this…
 
But you may not have the time and space!
You may not have the peace.
The world may be raging all around you.
 
In any case, any one of these three words can put you in touch with God.
In a word.
Literally.
 
Simply pray. When you can’t put two words together, try just one:
 
Help.
Thanks.
Wow.
 
Give it a shot.
 
Grace and Peace,
Scott