A PERFECT PRAYER
My favorite prayer is “Lord, help.” It is not too much to suggest that it just may be the perfect prayer.
In the first place, it is short. Jesus said, “When you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words” (Mt. 6:7). According to Jesus, when it comes to prayer, it is not the quantity of the words, but the quality of the words that matter.
Secondly, it recognizes who God is. He is the Lord. To say the same thing another way, He is the Master: I am the servant. It is easy to get our roles reversed, isn’t it? We can pray as if we are trying to get our will done in heaven. That is backwards. Prayer is to get God’s will done on earth. Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:9-10).
Thirdly, it acknowledges who I am. I am one who needs God’s help. I am dependent on Him to save me from the mess I’m in at the moment.
Listen to the Psalmist.
“Arise, O LORD; save me” (Ps. 3:7).
“Return, O LORD, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake! (Ps. 6:4).
“O LORD my God, in You I put my trust; save me from all those who persecute me; and deliver me” (Ps. 7:1).
“Save, LORD!” (Ps. 20:9).
“Save Me from the lion’s mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen!” (Ps. 22:21).
“Make Your face shine upon Your servant; save me for Your mercies’ sake” (Ps. 31:16).
“Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your strength” (Ps. 54:1).
“You are my God; save Your servant who trusts in You!” (Ps. 86:2).
“Help me, O LORD my God! Oh, save me according to Your mercy” (Ps. 109:26).
“Save now, I pray, O LORD” (Ps. 118:25).
My favorite is “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck” (Ps. 69:1). There are more, but I think I should keep this short. The point is we should pray. It doesn’t take long.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 5/30/2001
In the first place, it is short. Jesus said, “When you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words” (Mt. 6:7). According to Jesus, when it comes to prayer, it is not the quantity of the words, but the quality of the words that matter.
Secondly, it recognizes who God is. He is the Lord. To say the same thing another way, He is the Master: I am the servant. It is easy to get our roles reversed, isn’t it? We can pray as if we are trying to get our will done in heaven. That is backwards. Prayer is to get God’s will done on earth. Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:9-10).
Thirdly, it acknowledges who I am. I am one who needs God’s help. I am dependent on Him to save me from the mess I’m in at the moment.
Listen to the Psalmist.
“Arise, O LORD; save me” (Ps. 3:7).
“Return, O LORD, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake! (Ps. 6:4).
“O LORD my God, in You I put my trust; save me from all those who persecute me; and deliver me” (Ps. 7:1).
“Save, LORD!” (Ps. 20:9).
“Save Me from the lion’s mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen!” (Ps. 22:21).
“Make Your face shine upon Your servant; save me for Your mercies’ sake” (Ps. 31:16).
“Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your strength” (Ps. 54:1).
“You are my God; save Your servant who trusts in You!” (Ps. 86:2).
“Help me, O LORD my God! Oh, save me according to Your mercy” (Ps. 109:26).
“Save now, I pray, O LORD” (Ps. 118:25).
My favorite is “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck” (Ps. 69:1). There are more, but I think I should keep this short. The point is we should pray. It doesn’t take long.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 5/30/2001