Father Knows Best

Several years ago at a church I used to attend, I was privileged to have been asked to offer a corporate prayer in the Sunday services. Leading up to that weekend, I spent the better part of my days with God, seeking what He wanted me to pray. Following church that day, a prominent ministry leader made a point of finding me to tell me, “Your prayer was too short! The pastor should have asked my dad to pray. My dad knows how to pray.” My reply to her was even more compact than the prayer. I asked her, “Did you hear what I prayed?” Her lips said, “Yes,” but her body language gave away that she thought it was a bad prayer.

Looking back on that experience, I realize that I had, in fact, asked my Dad for the words to pray, and my Dad (Abba, Father) knows how to pray! That morning I didn’t speak pompous religious words and phrases at great length; I spoke the words God gave me for that appointed time. They were His power filled words. It was a prayer for God to cause us to lay our burdens down at His feet as an act of worship, and not as an act of desperation. God was not only faithful to give the words of prayer; He was also faithful to answer the prayer – lives were changed.

I asked God to give me words to speak today, and these are the words He gave me:

Speak Lord, I’m listening. Take me beyond just recognizing your voice God, and give me the ability to truly listen to your words.

This prayer is a short one also, and if they were my words it would probably be a bad prayer. However, these are the words God gave me to share. I’m expecting them to change my life. I’m expecting them to change your life too.

Grace to you.

Dave Paukner