Do you ever feel like your prayers bounce off heaven and return right back to you?

I Do.

That’s right.

I pray. I pray daily. Multiple times a day.

But their quick, their to the point, and yes…they are heartfelt.

 

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

Matthew 6:7

That scripture always comes to mind. I know it was speaking to a specific audience at that time, but I still wonder… “will I be babbling?” I want God to hear my heart, not my words.

But it always says to Pray without ceasing…

“Pray Continually;”

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Am I the only believer confused by scripture?

I have attended many churches of many denominations….All the same Jesus, and that’s what it’s about for me.

But my Home church, is technically a Pentecostal church, more modern day, I suppose.

We cut our hair, we wear pants, earrings, and make-up….that sort of stuff.

But we are spirit filled believers…..and let me tell ya, them Pentecostals are some serious prayin’ folks….

Although, my beliefs line up with theirs, I struggle with long, carried out prayers that often occur during our meeting times.

I mean, I can only go on about a subject for so long, I can only plea to God what He already knows of my heart anyway in so many ways. I can only repeat His name so many times before I begin to wonder…. “Is He still listening to me?”

I am by No means, stating that those that pray for long periods of time aren’t being heard, or that they aren’t praying from the depths of their heart.

I know many people, good friends,  that I know very well, that are able to pray like that. I believe with all my heart it is 110% genuine heartfelt prayer. It is a gifting, that quite possibly I do not have.

My prayers are often quick, to the point, and finished before I become distracted, or before I feel like they begin to bounce back to me.

Or another example…

When our children feel as though they haven’t behaved as we desire them to, they often feel unworthy to ask for something. Right?

Well, as a child of God, when I don’t behave as I know He desires me to, I sometime feels unworthy of praying for something, or someone.

“Who am I to ask of my Father, when I have been such a spoiled rotten child?

My prayers will probably bounce off heaven and come right back to me.”

Do you ever feel this way? (please tell me I’m not alone)

Know this….

No matter how big, or how small…how long, or how to the point our prayers, if they are sent with a humble heart and with abundance of faith, they are heard with the joyful heart of God.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up”

~James 4:10

We are also to confess our sins before prayer so that we may come to God Holy and Blameless

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective

~James 5:16

Apparently James has lots of good stuff to say about praying!

What’s your view? Are you a quick, and to the point kinda prayer warrior, or do you find yourself often lost in prayer, seeking Him?