May Our Words Be Pleasing In Your Sight O Lord!

Psalm 19:14

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

From the time I could speak I remember praying. I was raised in a Christian home – my dad was a pastor – and his dad before him. I learned the Lord’s Prayer.  I learned things to say at the table before a meal.  I learned to pray at my bedside.  I learned to pray in church and in Sunday School (of course the preacher’s son was called on in front of the whole class to pray because the preacher’s son should be able to pray – I was often told).  I learned to pray with fancy words – and I learned to pray as if I was speaking to a friend.  I learned to pray verbally and to I learned to pray silently – in my heart/mind.  I learned that prayer was speaking to God.  I learned that my words were not as important as my attitude when I came before God in prayer.

As a pastor I have lifted many prayers.  I have prayed at the birth of children – I have prayed at the death of children.  I have prayed over still-born children – I have prayed for preemies that would fit in the palm of my hand.  I have prayed for the sick – I have prayed for the well.  I have prayed at baptisms and dedications – I have prayed over communion and at weddings.  I have prayed for the healing of the sick and I have prayed for the healing of marriages.  I have prayed at Morning Prayer services – at revivals – at special services and regular weekly services – and I would imagine that many of our readers have learned to pray in many of these times as well.