May 1, 2024

One day in my early years in ministry, my wife and I were talking. Somehow, in the course of our conversation, she made a reference to my “prayer voice.” When I asked her what she was talking about, she said, “You know, that voice you get when you’re upfront at church when you pray.” I said, “What are you talking about?” She said, “Haven’t you ever noticed? When you’re giving announcements or even sharing prayer requests, you use your normal voice. But once you start praying, your voice lowers, and you become more formal.” I shook my head and said, “You’re out of your mind!” She smiled and shrugged.
The next day when I went to the office, I went into the sanctuary and pulled the tape that the Sunday service was recorded on. I fast-forwarded it to the prayer time. As soon as I began to pray, my jaw hit the ground. I went from talking like a normal human being to some guy who liked to use big words and speak fluent King James English. It was apparent that somewhere along the way, I learned that this was how we were supposed to talk to God. But I was wrong. It was simply the way you prayed if you wanted the people listening to think you were holy and knowledgeable.
Jesus reminds us in our passage today that God is not impressed by our command of language. He’s not moved by five or six-syllable words. He’s not moved when we spout theological precepts or quote famous religious leaders. He’s also not impressed by how long we pray or how loud we pray. What does move God is our childlike faith.
So come to God today. Lay your cares, your burdens, and your needs before Him. Trust in the fact that He knows what you need and why you need it. Share it with Him as you would a trusted Friend. You don’t have to say it right, say it eloquently, or say it with a “prayer voice.” God already heard your heart before your prayer ever got to your lips. And your heart is what moves Him. That’s God’s Word for you today.