One thing I like about heart prayer is how it side-steps two of the pitfalls of vocal prayer: aptitude and attitude.
Aptitude: some folks are gifted and articulate when they pray spontaneously. Others are not. They hem and haw like nervous public speakers, making a hash of the prayer. Of course God accepts these prayers, but the rest of us have to endure them.
Attitude: I hate to say it,
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but some of us sound judgmental, bossy and superior when we pray for others:
“Dear God, show Fred that he’s dating a floozy.” “Dear God, I know I need to be patient, but please hurry up with curing Grandma before the wedding!” “Lord, please help my daughter to realize that I am right.”
In heart prayer you don’t have to say anything. You just hold the person in God’s love with no judgment, no suggestions, no arrogance. I think the pray-er comes away from such prayer as well-loved as the pray-ee.
Try heart prayer on the folks on your prayer list. Let me know in the comments how you like it.
