Christmas Day Is Here

The CHRISTMAS SEASON has come to a close! THE DAY IS HERE!

Often times we do not appreciate the season. We gripe because stores prepare way too early. We sigh and say, “There are just too many expectations” . . .  baking, shopping, programs to attend, decisions to be made like whose family gets who for Christmas dinner, and year-end appeals for many more charities than we can handle, no matter how much we care.

OK. I admit I’ve been The Grinch sometimes, myself. But for some reason this year the season came alive for me. Maybe you enjoyed some of these things, too:

Christmas colors and decorations

Christmas sounds and songs

Christmas programs, live or on TV

Christmas greetings, verbal or written

Christmas goodies, baked or bought

Shopping for gifts to surprise people

The excitement of children

Hearing how people plan to celebrate

This is a special time of year, for other reasons. First of all, God stepped into time and fulfilled the Old Testament promises He made after the fall of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3). Galatians 4:4 (NKJV) says, "When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman."

Second, faithful people like Mary and Joseph believed in the coming of the Messiah (God’s Son) and, though surprised to be chosen, were willing participants in God’s plan of deliverance (Luke 1-2).

The third reason may be the most important of all. Christmas is a season of giving because God set the example. John 3:16 (NKJV) says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” 

Yes, I know the season is filled with Santa Claus, but as britannica.com explains, this gift-giving persona began with St. Nicholas, a Greek bishop known for his generosity and kindness to the poor.  

So, I think our challenge is this: How can we carry the goodwill of Christmas with us and share it throughout the coming year?”

 

How to Say Merry Christmas

The Christmas Season is here once again. I have always enjoyed sending and receiving Christmas greetings, but they seem extra special this year.

Not only is it fun to open my mailbox and find cards inside, but it’s also fun to sit down and read them. It causes me to indulge in some fond memories of the senders.

I was curious about Christmas cards. I googled for information and chose www.whychristmas.com 

In 1843, a British postal worker, Sir Henry Cole, and an artist friend, John Horsley, designed a Christmas card with three panels. The outer two panels showed people caring for the poor, and the center panel showed a family having a large Christmas dinner. The cost back then? 8 cents! This was a limited edition, perhaps 1,000 or less.

Their card even came with an advertising slogan: “Just published, a Christmas Congratulations Card, or picture emblematical of old English festivity to perpetuate kind recollections between dear friends.”   

We are way beyond postage of 8 cents these days! Maybe that’s one reason Christmas cards seem more and more special.

I like the variety of ways God sent out His Christmas message. First, His Son's promised birth was written in the Old Testament. Then, in the New Testament, the prophecies about Jesus were fulfilled.

Angels were also used to get God’s Christmas message down to earth. A single angel, Gabriel, was sent to Mary and Joseph, and the shepherds heard a heavenly host. Once they checked out the angelic message for themselves, they in turn became messengers of Christmas.

God’s message also appeared in the heavens. Wise men, who studied the sky for signs and wonders, committed themselves to faithfully follow its direction.

We also have a variety of ways to send our Christmas message. Cards, text messages, emails, and phone calls are all meaningful connections. Even if you haven’t sent any greetings for years, reach out to someone now. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

  

Christmas Is

Christmas is coming . . . like it or not. Greetings can be heard around the world: “Merry Christmas. . . Feliz Navidad. . . Joyeux Noel. . . Mele Kali-ki-maka. . . Frohliche Weihnachten.” Take your pick.

Christmas is what you make it. Greetings are nice but actions matter. Some people focus totally on family, while others focus on charities. Some move into the season with a spiritual focus. Others dread the season and react like Scrooge or The Grinch.

Christmas is a day AND a season. Holidays add spice to what could otherwise be 365 humdrum days in a year. All holidays have a commercial season leading up to the designated day. Think of Valentine’s Day, Halloween, or Easter. But Christmas, while having a commercial impact, also produces acts of kindness by individuals, groups, and communities for weeks before the day arrives.

Christmas is a season of hope. Who can explain this phenomenon? Children hope they’ll find gifts in their stockings or under the tree. But with age comes a deeper understanding of Christmas. God set the pattern of giving when He gave to the world His only Son (John 3:16). And in Jesus we find hope for life now and beyond the grave (Romans 5:1-2).

Christmas is what you make it. People can sing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” all season long, but words and wishes don’t make it so. The only way to have a “merry, cheerful, jolly, good-spirited Christmas” is to make a personal decision. Whether you are rich or poor, young or old, positive or negative . . . Christmas is personal and will be to you only what you decide to make it.

So . . . MERRY CHRISTMAS (words only) . . . ACTIONS (are up to you)! 

Unexpected Blessing #4

I have a Goddaughter who lives out of state. She’s a project person, so her visits are always productive.

She said, “I’m coming over. We’ll clean out your attic storage area.” The problem was this attic did not have pull-down steps. I knew I was not a ladder person, but until it was over, I didn’t know she wasn’t either.

On the same weekend, another out-of-state friend said she would be in town and would like to visit. I asked her to come in the morning since my Goddaughter was arriving that afternoon.

My friend arrived with her daughter, whom I had not seen since she was quite young. I also enjoyed meeting the daughter's mother-in-law.   

While catching up on news, I shared about my breast cancer surgery, then I moved on to the purpose of my Goddaughter’s visit. “I’m not sure how much I can help,” I said, “My oncologist told me not to lift more than six pounds with my left arm.”  

My friend’s daughter spoke right up. “I could help.”

What a lovely surprise. “Really? That would be so great! I’ll be in touch after my Goddaughter arrives.”

But there was another unexpected blessing. When she drove up the next morning, her college-age son and his girlfriend got out of the car. She introduced them and said, “They’re willing to help, too.” 

We developed a plan. Her son crawled up into the attic, she stood on the ladder and his girlfriend and my Goddaughter received the boxes and restacked them while I supervised.

My 10x12 attic space was cleared out in about two hours.

I had originally planned to sort through boxes later. But my Goddaughter, whom I laughingly call the Energizer Bunny, looked at the stacks of boxes and said, “We could sort these now.”

I said, “Fine. Let’s do it!” What a relief . . . another time-consuming job done in a few hours.

I am still grateful for this unexpected blessing: Four helpful caring people who acted on the advice in Philippians 4:2: Don’t just look out for your own needs, but also consider the needs of others.

  

Unexpected Blessing #3

Unexpected blessing number three took a while to reveal itself.  In one of my favorite movies, the guy and gal pass each other many times, yet never notice one another.

I’ve always thought that’s just a movie, but maybe not. I’m thinking of six ordinary friendly connections with my husband before true love became obvious.

 

Sadie Hawkins Day: This college event was a girl-ask-boy, so two friends and I decided to ask dates to Knott’s Berry Farm. They dared me to ask a guy I’ll call “Ricardo.” While deciding how to fit six people into my four-door Corvair, Ricardo said, “I’ll drive.” Feeling no need to impress, I said, “No, I’ll drive. It’s my car.”

 

A Wedding: Ricardo had known my roommate for years, so he asked if she knew of a pianist who could help with a small wedding. She asked and I agreed, so we drove to a small church nearby. I played for the wedding, then we left. There was no special connection with Ricardo.

 

A Box Social: This was a youth group fundraiser. The guy I was interested in asked how he could bid on my box, so I gave him a hint. My “second mom” in college told Ricardo my secret and dared him to come and outbid my person of interest. I was extremely unhappy when he won and we had to eat together.

 

Choir Connection: Later, Ricardo was called to our small church as choir director where I played the organ. Some of our songs were Black Gospel. When he asked to work with me on some of the rhythms, I was still clueless. To me, it was just a music session.

 

Used Cars: When Ricardo learned of my dream to own a Mustang, we started to connect on long drives to look at used car lots. They weren’t fancy dates, just fun rides and cheap eats at McDonald’s or Jack-in-the-Box.

 

Senior Year Banquet: At this event, it became obvious we had eyes for each other, though we were there with different dates. After graduation, we stayed in the area and became more serious about our relationship.

We got engaged in August and married in early November. God certainly answered my prayers for a Christian husband. The best Unexpected Blessing of my life was a guy I lovingly called “Ricardo.”

Unexpected Blessing #2

I was completely surprised by a breast cancer diagnosis in 2007. No one in my family had ever had cancer as a health issue. 

Before this, my husband and I had purchased a co-op in Phoenix. We were engaged in a full-time ministry and it seemed a nice option for brief getaways, plus a possibility for future retirement.

We were clueless as to any other reason for our purchase.

Unexpected challenges arrived after a lump was found during my routine breast exam. The doctor referred me for a biopsy so I followed through, made the appointment, and shared my insurance information.

On the day of the appointment, I checked in and filled out about five pages of new-patient paperwork. When I walked up to hand it in, the medical assistant took one look and said, “We don’t take your insurance.”

I was shocked! “But you did when I made the appointment.”

 “Well, we don’t, now.” She had no further explanation.

I called my insurance agent, who was also surprised, but said she would check it out. She called later to say the company had gone out of business and notified no one, but she would try to locate another provider.

Unfortunately, no local provider was available. That meant all of my care would now be in Phoenix, a two-hour drive one way.

I signed on with the new company and made the necessary appointments ASAP. I was diagnosed with Stage Three Breast Cancer which led to a full nine months of treatments --- chemo, surgery, and radiation.

I’m still amazed at how God was ahead of us on needed housing. The co-op was a small 2 BD/1BA and I turned the second bedroom into a comfortable office.

I never dreamed cancer treatments meant I’d be alone in a big city for almost ten months. The nice thing is that I felt safe in our co-op community.

Coincidence? I think NOT!

Matthew 6:8 (NKJV) says, “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” That co-op was an unexpected blessing for which I will always be grateful.

(Unexpected Blessings: A Series of 4)

 

Unexpected Blessing #1

                                          UNEXPECTED BLESSING #1

I was born with a neck problem. When first diagnosed it was labeled “wry neck.” Years later it was called “torque neck.”

The presenting problem was a neck muscle on my right side. As I grew, it remained short. This meant my head always tilted to the right and I couldn’t help it. In my teenage years, I started to become very self-conscious.

I’ve always wondered how our family doctors could check for scoliosis, and never notice my crooked neck. But I had an unexpected blessing in my third year of college.

I had an extremely sore throat and decided to go to the university’s free clinic.

The man behind the desk stood up as I walked in. “I can help you with that,” he said.

 "Thanks. I’m here with a very sore throat.”

 “OK, but I’m looking at your neck. I’ve never operated on anyone as old as you, but I still think it would work.” He was an orthopedic surgeon, one of the many doctors who volunteered at the clinic.

I left with a prescription for strep throat and information regarding his office if I desired an evaluation of my neck.

My problem was not solved with one surgery, but two.

First, the short muscle was detached from my collarbone on the right side. I still have a small scar there. Next, the doctor striated the muscle behind my right ear. I’ve always associated that procedure with the word “shredded." Whatever . . . it worked.

During the next school year, I faithfully applied wet hot packs to the right side of my neck. Then I gradually and persistently pulled to the left. The good news is, my neck straightened up.

God opened a door for me that I had no idea existed. Author Squire Rushnell would call it a “God Wink.” To me, however, it was an unexpected blessing and I still find it easy to say, “Thank you, God.”

 Note: This will be a four-week series.

Just Tap It

Even with renewed Covid distancing, I hear conversations while in checkout lines. This week I overheard an unusual comment from a lady ahead of me.

She was having trouble using her credit card and the clerk told her what to do. After withdrawing her card, she said, “One of these days they’re going to standardize these cards and it won’t be a problem.”

I could sympathize with her frustration. She and I are only two of the millions who have upped the credit card game from sliding to inserting to tapping.

Technology constantly challenges us with updates and changes. I try to keep up, but sometimes I have to turn to my techie Goddaughters for help. They’re not only helpful but encouraging, with comments like “You’re doing good” (while kindly neglecting to add “for your age”).

When I heard the lady’s remarks about credit cards I was reminded of news from Europe. Experiments are being done with an ID chip on the wrist. That seems far out, but even the old comic strip with Dick Tracy talking into his wristwatch no longer seems like a crazy idea!

Science fiction fans consistently see futuristic and outlandish things. But we can find some amazing apocalyptic predictions in the last book of the Bible, too.

If interested, read Revelation 13:16-18. A world ruler will require anyone who wants to buy or sell, to have a chip implanted with his number (666) in their hand or forehead. The lady I overheard was right. One day they will standardize credit cards into small chips with one number.

The problem is, the little chip has eternal consequences (Revelation 14:9-10). Those who desire to have a part in God’s kingdom will no longer have a place if they accept this number.

Only God knows the timing of futuristic events. To be forewarned is to be forearmed; however, that includes tapping into God’s encouraging words in Psalm 37:1-3 (NKJV) while we wait:  Do not fret . . . trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness.        

Healthy Retrospection

 

Introspection is a word heard more often than retrospection. The slang term used to be “naval gazing,” because introspection can become very self-absorbing without producing many answers.

Retro has to do with things that have already happened. Retrospection can be a good thing unless it simply becomes nostalgia, or a desire to live in the past.

Healthy retrospection is grounded in the present, with the past giving hope for the future.

I often enjoy retrospection with a purpose. Psalm 100:4 directs us to enter God’s Presence with thanksgiving, then move closer in with praise.

Engaging in retrospection expands my thankfulness. I learned to depend on God’s word (Lamentations 3:22-26) during a couple of stressful times in my life: (1) While fighting Stage 3 Breast Cancer in 2007, and (2) while being a caregiver, twice, after retirement in 2009. These events come easily to mind.

But I’m happy to say God is still keeping His word morning-by-morning and day-after-day. Those phrases remind me of a favorite hymn: *Great Is Thy Faithfulness. The **refrain is this:

 Great is Thy faithfulness; Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

 Although this hymn was published in 1923, it was basically unknown until popularized by George Beverly Shea and the choirs at Billy Graham Crusades. The words were a poem written by Thomas O. Chisholm, set to music by Wm. M. Runyan.

Quiet yourself for a few moments and look back on your life. Do you need some "thankful ideas?" Try these:

Lessons Learned

Problems Solved

Relationships Healed

Physical or Emotional Needs Met

Spiritual Growth

Prayers Answered

A positive attitude is a healthy mindset. I'm thankful we don’t have to wait for one yearly official “Thanksgiving Day.”

Look forward to sunrise - - - it's a new day - - - filled with God’s new mercies. Engage in some retrospection, give thanks, then move forward in faith for that day.

*Great Is Thy Faithfulness; Then Sings My Soul, Robt. J. Morgan, 2003; Life Outreach Edition, p. 284-285.

**Refrain; Melodies of Praise; Gospel Publishing House, Springfield, MO; 1957, p. 216.

Relevant Advice

How many times do you have to hear the same advice before you take it seriously? One of my favorite Psalms is number thirty-seven. I have read it many times, in different translations.

It’s not a long Psalm, only forty verses, but the word “fret” catches my immediate attention. It occurs as part of a three-word phrase three times in the first eight verses.

When you fret, you allow yourself to worry or become upset over something. Anxious thoughts fill your mind, gnawing away, causing you to be disturbed or even angry.

If anyone had a reason to fret, I’d say it was David. He started out as a shepherd boy, was anointed to be king, but then had to wait for God’s timing. While waiting, the king in power made his life miserable. David and his supporting army were constantly fleeing for their lives, yet his faith in God shines clearly in the advice of this Psalm.

Read for yourself David’s words about fretting:

PSALM 37 (NKJV)

VERSE 1

Do not fret because of evildoers,

nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.

VERSE 7

Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,

Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

VERSE 8

Do not fret - - - it only causes harm.

Read the full chapter and you’ll see that David was convinced that trusting the Lord brings rewards now and for eternity. He also believed though the wicked presently flourish, they’ll find eternity to be just the opposite.

Do not fret is relevant advice. It’s easy in our day to stay disturbed over the economy . . . higher prices on food and gas, rents out of reach, and a medical system on overload. Yet David encourages us to choose our thoughts wisely, giving God a premium spot.

In place of “do not,” David advises “do this:” Trust in the Lord, do good, feed on His faithfulness, commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him, rest in Him, wait patiently for Him, depart from evil, do good, and keep His way.  

Do not fret, but do live freely. You can read Psalm 37 and start following God’s Word today. If you don’t have a Bible, your cell phone can be a good source. My favorite app happens to be the YouVersion.

  

Seeds Anonymous

I’m not a gardener, so I have no advice in that area. I am a seed, however, just like you. Which of us has never felt like a dot-sized seed in the huge field of humanity?

One tiny seed journaled its thoughts:

                Page 1:  I am only a small seed and I feel like a tiny dot in this world. I know my feelings are based on my outward appearance. My importance lies on the inside, unseen but powerful. One day I will be planted, though I don’t know when or where. I do know I will grow at my God-given rate and my life will make a difference.

               Page 2:  Here I am---just a dot in this huge field, but I’ll remain in place, growing and producing what is within me. Eventually this field will be harvested and the grain distributed. My life will continue in a new way, but no one will know which life-supporting grain came from me.

      

 Page 3:  Harvest is over. This field has been plowed and my roots are resting in the sun. I lived a full life, did what I could, and even now I’m enriching this field for the seeds that will follow me. I’m still unknown, but fame was not my goal. I simply wanted the personal satisfaction of a life well-lived.

Day after day our world is blessed by unknown people. Like the little seed, they choose to remain faithful to their jobs, their families, their employers and themselves, living out their religious and moral principles.

Good deeds are important and will be rewarded. According to Matthew 6:1-4, Some people make it a point to let people know what they are doing. Earthly praise is their reward.

If we try to do good works without being noticed, our Father in Heaven judges the motives of our hearts and His will be a heavenly reward.

Albert Schweitzer, a Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1952, said, “The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”

You are important. Together, as members of “Seeds Anonymous,” these shared traits can make a difference:

Kind hearts our gardens,

Kind thoughts our roots,

Kind words our flowers,

Kind deeds our fruits.

(Author Anonymous)

 

What's Wrong with Absolutes?

Many aspects of our life depend on them. Bakers would have a hard time creating their delicious treats without absolutes. They know eight ounces will always equal one cup, three teaspoons will equal one tablespoon, and a pound of butter will weigh sixteen ounces. They can create smaller or larger amounts from those absolutes, as needed.

No matter how you feel about it, another area that depends on absolutes is math. Before we ever reach the stage of algebra or geometry, we rest assured one plus one will always equal two, four times two will always equal eight, twenty take away five will equal fifteen, and thirty divided by six will always be five.

I often wonder why people reject absolutes? Take the Ten Commandments in Exodus Twenty, for example. We are advised not to murder, commit adultery, steal, lie, or covet things that don’t belong to us. Can we say our world is improved because people choose to ignore these life-improving commands on an everyday basis?

According to a *poll published in 2021 by Gallup analytics, 47% of Americans rated U.S. moral values as “poor,” 37% as “only fair” and 16% as “excellent” or “good.” One year later would you say we have substantially improved any of these numbers?

We moderns seem to be copying an ancient scenario. Judges 17:6 and 21:25 both say, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

Absolute truth remains the same in any context, but relative truth is variable . . . what is true for one person may not be true for another. Accepting truth as being relative or changeable, weakens the foundations of society. Whose truth can we agree upon?

Which of these do you think has abdicated personal responsibility for teaching moral values in our generation: homes, schools, or churches? What role do you play in any of these?

What’s wrong with absolutes? Nothing. In fact, our survival as a society may depend on them.

What are the absolutes by which you choose to live? If you’re clueless, Exodus Twenty can get you started.

I googled “today’s morality” and this one paragraph came up first; however, when I clicked on the tagline below it brought up a different article. 

3 Ways to Cool Your Jets

 

When warming up for takeoff, the power in jet engines is noticeable to everyone. On a personal level, have you ever heard someone say, “Cool your jets?” If so, you might have noticed an angry adult, ready to explode. 

Power used in the right way is a tremendous blessing. People purchase airline tickets, counting on those big jet engines to get them up in the air and on to their destination. 

Humans have fiery jets, too. They’re called emotions, and some people control them than others. 

If you would like to “keep your cool” more often, consider this easily-read advice. Psalm 37:8 (NKJV): Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret---it only causes harm. 

The nouns are what fire up our emotions.  

ANGER

Make all hot and bothered

Make one blow his top

Lose one’s temper 

WRATH

Fury

Vengeance

Madness

FRET

Suffer or cause annoyance

Disturb, agitate, or vex

Worry or be bothered 

The verbs, or action words, are what put the fires out:

 CEASE from anger: Stop, terminate, or discontinue it . . .

FORSAKE wrath: Relinquish, renounce, or abandon it . . .

DO NOT fret: Don’t indulge in worry, or let yourself remain anxious over something . . .

The Psalmist emphasizes that fretting, or worry, leads to harm. Some people actually make themselves sick with worry; however, I think anger and wrath buildups can also harm our health, and our relationships.

A habit is something we do without giving it much thought. The good news is that habits CAN be changed. Articles about this seem to agree on one thing: There is no magic number of days required to create a new habit.

The important thing is to desire change, then start working on your desired goal.

Help is available if you ask. Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) says, “Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Do you want to be healthier . . . improve relationships . . . develop better self-awareness? Then start learning NOW how (and when) to “cool your jets.”

Pursue Peace

Not everyone desires peace. All of history is filled with conflict. Even King David wrote I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war (Psalm 120:7 NKJV).

You can find whole books about peace, but I’m offering a few ideas, so let’s get started.

If you think of peace as absence of conflict, you’re on the right track. It could mean not arguing, not fighting back or not demanding your own way. But let’s look at some other options.

Psalm 34:12 (NKJV) asks a question? Who is the (person) who desires life, and loves many days, that (they) may see good?  

The answer is in verses 13 and 14 (NKJV): Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it.

You must seek before you pursue. You won’t just drift into peace; it will require some effort. To seek means to focus on a goal and pursue it wholeheartedly.

Before mining was done with heavy equipment, gold miners went out with pans and shovels. Even a little gold was worth the effort. So, let’s consider four seemingly little efforts with peaceful payoffs:

1. Keep your tongue from evil: According to James 3:1-12 the tongue can easily set things on fire. It’s easy to speak without thinking, or to want to prove yourself right. Sometimes the only way to make peace is to agree to disagree.
2. Keep your lips from speaking deceit: Lasting peace never comes through trickery, duplicity, or partial truth. “White lies” are a myth. Truth will out and leave you squirming.
3. Depart from evil: Evil means different things to different people, but here it means avoid words that are harmful, malicious or mean. Dictionaries prove you have plenty of word choices, so don’t limit your mindset or vocabulary.
4. Do good: Use your words to build bridges, not walls. We humans will never agree on everything, but that doesn’t mean we can’t seek peace by being tolerant of, or truly accepting of, another’s point of view. Even a few words, spoken kindly, can have a positive impact.

To pursue peace requires effort. Detectives don’t solve cases by sitting at their desks, staring out the window. They put their feet on the ground and get moving, thinking, analyzing, pursuing their goal.

To pursue peace is such a worthy goal that even God takes notice. Blessed are the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9).    

Pursuing peace will not become a habit overnight, but consistent effort will pay off noticeably in time.

How Can I Pray?

First of all, let’s define prayer. Here’s the bottom line: Prayer is communication with God. It’s not that God doesn’t know what we need, but with prayer we invite Him into our lives.

Prayers can be formal or informal, written or spontaneous. Since God created languages, He's open to prayers from people in all countries. I grew up with the King James Bible, but was taught to pray in my everyday English language.

Here are a few simple guidelines:

1.       Approach God with humility, avoid praying to be seen by people.

Jesus taught this with a parable about two characters: A Pharisee and a tax collector.  One prayed to be seen, proudly listing all his religious accomplishments. The other tried to be unnoticed as he bowed his head and prayed, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” (Luke 18:9-14)

2.       Prayer does not require wordy repetition.

Jesus said pagans thought their gods would hear them if they used many repetitive words. But He said our Father knows what we need, so prayers can be simple and direct. (Matthew 6:7-8).

3.       The Lord’s Prayer is a great model.

If you’re not sure what to pray, review Matthew 6:9-13 (NKJV). I enjoy praying this in group settings, but sometimes I pray it on my own, using one sentence at a time to jump start my own prayers.

4.       Pray for the needs of others, as well as yourself.

Be alert to people and their needs. In writing to the Thessalonians, Paul made his request very simple: “Brothers and sisters, pray for us.” (I Thessalonians 5:25 NLT)

5.       Simple sentence prayers are heard, too.

Remember when Peter was walking on the water toward Jesus? He lost his focus, started to sink and cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached for him (Matthew 14:28-31). Remember one of the thieves crucified next to Jesus? He said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” Jesus said, “Today you’ll be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)   

If you’ve considered prayer a take-it-or-leave-it proposition, think again. You can talk to God about anything, anytime, anywhere. What could be better than that?