PRAYING ABOUT THE DUMB STUFF

Prayer.

It's serious business, right?

At least that's what I've always thought.

Deep, important – might I say, pious – communication with God.

In fact, I've always sorta categorized prayer – and, without necessarily meaning to, I've *ranked* it, too.

For instance:

There are the "arrow" prayers – the two-second prayers – like "Help me!" or "Save me!"

Then there are the "formula" prayers – like a favorite bedtime prayer, such as "Now I lay me down to sleep…"  Or a prayer that you might say before a meal – (I've always been a fan of "Rub-a-dub-dub, God bless the grub!")

I've alway thought of those as *fluffy* prayers.

Then there are the more *serious* prayers – like the ones you'd say in front of people, or the ones you'd say during your quiet time.

But, the most important prayers, in my opinion, are the "long" prayers.

These are the prayers uttered by *prayer warriors*.

I've heard of people who have spent an hour (or more) praying.  I've even heard of people who literally lay prostrate on the floor in prayer.

Truth be told, I admire them.  I wish to emulate them.

But, I've never really considered myself a warrior.  I'm more like an enlisted man, a private – (maybe one of those guys who blows the bugle in the background somewhere).

[Sidenote: Isn't it funny how we humans have a need to rank stuff?  We do the same with sin.  There's the "fluffy" stuff like a little white lie – and then there's the "serious" stuff like murder].

But, I digress.  

So, today I'm thinking about those *rankings*.

Fluffy or serious.

And I'm thinking about all the dumb stuff I pray about.

Do you do that?

I know I sure do.

But what constitutes dumb stuff?


Well, here's a list of some of the recent dumb things I've prayed about:

To get a parking place.

To lose some weight.

To find something that I've misplaced.

For the kitchen knobs and pulls to show up soon.

For a headache to go away.

To get our taxes done on time.

To fall asleep.


I could think of many other things, because I pray about dumb stuff all the time.  But, I got to wondering about this the other day.  Should I be praying about these things?  Are they a waste of my time?

Are they a waste of God's time?

But who am I to categorize prayer?  Who am I to rank (judge??) the levels of communication?

Who am I to determine what God likes hearing?

Does He only want *serious* prayers?

And does He enjoy the words of serious *pray--ers* more than hearing from me?

(Those were rhetorical questions – I'm pretty sure the answer is NO!)


I got to thinking about how my sons communicate with me.

Do I rank their conversation as fluffy, formula, or serious?

Do I judge their words as important or dumb?

Do I only want to hear from them when they've got something *meaty* to say?

Certainly not!

I just want to hear from them!!


God is the same way.

Sometimes I'll have those big, important, *serious* conversations.

And sometimes all I'll be able to manage is an arrow prayer – (or maybe even a "Rub-a-dub-dub…")

More often than not, I'm pretty sure I'll be praying about dumb stuff.

But here's the thing – most of the day I'll be talking to God – including Him in the details of my life.

The meaty and the mundane.

And, after all, isn’t that what matters most?

(That was a rhetorical question – I'm pretty sure the answer is YES!)


So, this is my conclusion –

God is in the details.

He cares about anything and everything I want to say to Him.

He's just waiting to hear from me.  PERIOD.

And so, when I say these words:

"Lord…"

I just know that He says:

"Ah yes, my dear Sharon, what's on your mind?  Tell me all about it…"


So talk to God, my friends.

He loves hearing from us.

Fluffy or serious…

…even the dumb stuff.

"Nothing is too small for God."

- A quote from one of my mountain friends!

"Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion."  (Ephesians 6:18)

"Never stop praying."  (1 Thessalonians 5:17)



Is there anything you're not sharing with God because you think it's too trivial?



Linked today with:

Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY
Michelle at HEAR IT ON SUNDAY, USE IT ON MONDAY
Pamela at A SHELTERING TREE
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"