Another Language

So I am pretty sure that everytime I walk out of chapel I have something new to ponder about. I sit in my chair sometimes just staring at the speaker or band playing giving them some inquistive look wondering what they are even doing here. I hope one day they see me and can read my face and know everything that is racing through my head at that moment.

This week featured a lot of people reading prayer. For some reason people who type out their prayers onto a piece of paper and then read it to the crowd frustrates me. The tone of their voice is unnatural and they usually fill in some big words to make themselves sound smart. They usually start with, "Please pray with me." Everyone bows their heads and folds their hands while the speaker pauses and stares straight down at their notes reading what they typed before hand. Their is no realness to the prayer, it's all just words. It's like another language.

I've been taught that prayer is communication to God. It's like a direct phone line that is always connected to the heavens. Now I have done my fair share of read prayers don't get me wrong. I just don't think we should put a mask over what we say to God. Doesn't He already know our hearts desires? Why cover it up with big words and fancy sentences? I don't write down what I'm going to say to my friend on the phone. To me, writing it down leaves no room for the Spirit to talk to you. Prayer should be a conversation, not a scene in a play. What does it mean to you if you're speaking in a language that is not even your own?

I try to say my own prayer when the speaker is "praying." I pray for an overflowing of His love through me. That truth will fall on me. I speak to God directly, not with fancy words or poetic speeches but with an open heart and honest remarks.