Just Say a Prayer

In the 1990s, then-President Bill Clinton adopted a program of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" for the US Military, to avoid prosecution of homsexuality within the Armed Forces--an act then prohibited by the Uniform Code of Military Justice (Article 125). Being told to "not ask" was hardly a new concept for the military. It's a common theme that soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines aren't supposed to ask questions--they're supposed to follow orders.

That isn't the case with Our Father in Heaven and His only begotten son, Christ Jesus. Requesting assistance of the LORD is highly encouraged throughout scripture. But prayer isn't just about asking God for things as though He is some kind of magic genie. We are to praise the LORD as well. Jesus illustrated both requesting and thanking with his example of what prayer to the Father should be like in Matthew 6:9-13:  

9, After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11, Give us this day our daily bread.

12, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Asking God for help should not be anything to ashamed of. Jesus directed the Apostles and his other disciples, during his Sermon on the Mount, to ask for assistance (Matthew 7:7):

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Yes, God doesn't always answers prayer--don't expect him to gift you a Lamborghini or a million bucks. But, if your request is in accordance with His will, you may get what you request. Not asking guarantees you won't receive it.

Nor should we limit our prayers to just ourselves. A friend once lamented to me that when he was out and about, he would see people begging for money. He was hesitant to help them, fearing they might be faking their need--then he immediately would feel bad for thinking that and passing them by without helping them. My response to this was simple: Pray for them.

There are many people in the world who need help but won't ask for it. This isn't just help from God, but help from anyone. If you see someone in need, if nothing else, you can pray for them, asking God on their behalf.

Prayer doesn't stop with with praise and pleading. There's also just simple dialogue.

Every morning, we greet people with salutations like "Good Morning!" or "Hello". Why not God? Children are often taught to say their prayers at night, before they go to sleep. Why not start the day with a hello to God--and maybe a thanks for another day alive?

Prayer should be a daily part of our life, but it doesn't have to be a public one. While we shouldn't be embarrassed to believe in and speak to our Father in Heaven, we also shouldn't pray to make ourselves seem righteous or holy. Jesus also addressed this in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:2 & 6:5):

Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

...

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Neither should we recite memorized prayers as though they are magic spells. When we speak to God, it should be respectful, but done in an actual dialogue no different from speaking to family or pets--God does hear you and understands what you are saying. And of course, Jesus addressed this aspect of prayer also (Matthew 6:7)

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Prayer costs us nothing but a fleeting moment of time, the same time we spend on many around us. Why not spend a moment here and there speaking to God? Thank Him, Ask Him, or maybe just say hi. He is always listening.