Prayer as attitude

A simple thought on prayer.  Prayer is not magic, nor is it systematic.  Prayer is attitude and relationship.  There is no formula (even "in Jesus' name") that assures us of an outcome or result for our prayers.  Can I go so far as to say that there is no right or wrong prayer to pray?  It seems to me that the attitude and heart of the prayer are more important than the words that are said in the prayer.

For example, see  Luke 18:9-14.

⁹And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: ¹⁰“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹“The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹²‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ ¹³“But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ ¹⁴“I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Thus, when we pray, we do not seek a systematic solution to life's problems.  Instead we pray to acknowledge God and to know God more, to know his will, to work through our issues but not to solve them.  Prayer is not a system that handles our difficulties.  Prayer itself is difficult and goes against human thought and desire.  Yet, we must learn the heart of prayer--and be disciplined in prayer--if we are to grow in faith and knowledge of our God and Savior.

Meditation: Psalm 39.   "I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue. . . . .  And now, what do I wait for?  My hope, O Lord, is in you.  Deliver me from my transgressions.  Do not make me the scorn of fools."

Spend 15 minutes dwelling on these (and other) verses in Psalm 39.  Let your mind be filled with God's word, and shut all other images and noises as you focus on his truth.