A friend of mine took his small son with him one day to a familiar dinner for a sandwich. The father sat down on one of the stools at the counter and lifted the boy up to the seat beside him.

They ordered lunch, and when the waiter brought the food the father said, "Son, we'll just have a silent prayer."

Dad got through praying first and waited for his son to finish his prayer, but he just sat with his head bowed for an unusually long time.

When he finally looked up, his father asked him, "What in the world were you praying about all that time ?"

"How do I know ?" the child replied. "It was a silent prayer."

A lot of our praying is like that. We don't say anything to the Lord. We call words to mind, but they are repetitious on insincere. What the Lord wants from us is earnest, heartfelt prayer - prompted by the Holy Spirit and offered in the name of the Lord Jesus. The result, according to Paul, is "the peace of the God, which surpasses all understanding," that "will guard [our] hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7)

We need to take prayer seriously. That doesn't mean closing eyes, bowing our heads, and repeating nice-sounding words. Our requests must be in line with God's Word, and they must come from sincere hearts. - PRV

Converse in mind with God
Thy spirit heavenward raise;
Acknowledge every good bestowed,
And offer grateful praise. - Dann

True prayer does not require eloquence but earnestness.