Child like Prayer

Matthew 6:6 –   Prayer and Fasting – Matthew 6:5-18

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep;

If I should die before I wake,

I pray the Lord my soul to take.

This is a prayer that some children are taught at an early age.  Somewhere down the line it was taught to me.  But the teaching went no further than that.  So for years prayer was not a part of my daily routine.

Now, I say that I pray continuously.  Little chats with God through out my day. Sometimes they are silent, just thoughts within my head and sometimes they are actually audible conversation. But is that what child like prayer is?

The other night I did as I usually do and crawl in bed, way more tired than anyone should ever get, and I started talking with God.  Saying my prayers as I do.  And I realized I started by immediately telling him what I wanted to happen.  So tired that I just jumped right past my praise of what He has done for me through out the day and simply getting down to business.  Not that there is anything wrong with “getting down to business” with God, but it really hit me hard that I don’t think that I had praised Him that day, not really praised and thanked Him for all He has done, is doing and will do in my life.

So I’m challenged to be more intentional in my prayers to Him.  To have relationship, conversation, gratitude and praise.  I want to have prayer with Him as a child. Thanking Him from the heart and focusing on others more than myself.  That is Child-like prayer.

Lord, I thank  you for having much grace on me. I pray that I’m willing to sacrifice as you have sacrificed. I pray that I will be able to show love as you have loved me. Amen!