Prayer

G'day Mate; just talk to him like your father whom you love, w/respect; i find that constant communication w/ him makes it easier all the time!hope this helps. ur friend bill

 

John, a prayer should be natural, coming from the heart - and I see that you are doing just that, since you use words which otherwise not normally do (thee and thou). But praying for patience, and demanding it right away is funny indeed (to say the least).

Speaking for myself, I also use the words "Thee," and "Thou," but it is the result of my upbringing. I have been transplanted to the USA back in 1962, and a friend gave me a KJ Bible. The Pastor of the church I attended (Hungarian Baptist) in NYC also prayed with the old English, so that is how I first heard and then got accustomed to - and now I wouldn't be able to use any other words even if I wanted to. There is no shame in praying with the Elizabethan English, for the Lord understand it fine.

Now, if some folks are capable of using fancy words (and not having it written down either) is OK. Some have talent in speaking and praying, some have talent in ministering to the folks in other ways - but all in the same Spirit. On the other hand do you remember the prayer of the pharisee and the publican? The Lord heard them both, but Jesus told us that the publican went away justified while the other just have blown off some steam. So, in the final analysis it is more important to have our hearts right with the Lord than worry ourselves about the words we use - don't you think?

 

G'Day Mate,

I am told, if one prays a psalm each day, his public prayers would improve tenfold. Reading poems aloud also helps.

Dean Brown, of Central Baptist Seminary, Ontario, Canada, was famous for short prayers, such as saying grace: For food, fun and fellowship, we give Thee thanks, O Lord. Now Dean Brown could get away with that. Most of us would sound rather shabby. I guess the essence is, in all things, be yourself.

Cheers,

Jim