UNCOMPLICATED PRAYER - THE BOOK

[Small Books, Big Thoughts – by Sanctuary Living]

“Dear Heavenly Father,” I start, and sentences so often refuse to form.
The heartaches, it seems, are more amplified in the quiet when we are left to the inadequacy of ourselves.

____________________

I love being alone.

But feeling alone is an entirely different thing.

There were endless nights, in the beginning, when I would lay on my side and look out at the lake, the echoes of “what ifs,” and “what next” as permeating and haunting as the dark water barely visible in the moonlight.

This would be my solo journey. Not even the humans closest to me could come along.

My independent spirit was a reliable and welcome companion in those early days. But I began to crave the encouragement and affirmation of others who spoke life into those “what if” thoughts, guiding me to avoid the tendency to linger too long or too deeply in that curious darkness.

STAGE IV CANCER. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? HOW WILL I MAKE IT THROUGH? AND THEN COMES THE OVERWHELMING PROCLAMATION FROM AN ARMY OF BELIEVERS WHO SHARE, “I AM PRAYING FOR YOU.”

What do you say when you go before the Creator of All Things? What does your voice, your disposition sound like?

In those difficult hours I would imagine you, praying for me. But it wasn’t enough to know you were praying, I craved the ability to sit beside you, to eavesdrop on every word. I was consumed by this wonder, often pairing names and faces with words and sentences I imagine you would pray.

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WHEN THEY TALK WITH GOD ABOUT YOU?

Last September I wrote the piece, “Uncomplicated Prayer.” The response overwhelmingly confirmed that we are all more than a little curious about the sound of other people’s prayers.

There is nothing like the peace that comes from knowing someone you love or hardly know is whispering your name to the Heavens—

On their knees in quiet, focused prayer
On their feet as they go about their day

But knowing is not enough for me. I long to hear your prayers.

This is what inspired the idea for

UNCOMPLICATED PRAYER —a collection of words that pierce the Father’s heart…

authentic, honest words that capture our humanity, bathed in angst, fear, grief, power as we ask the Creator of the Universe to intervene.

UNCOMPLICATED PRAYER is an inside glimpse at what praying people say and how they say it when they take their petitions to the throne.

This is a book for people just like you and me—
those who are sometimes at a loss for words,
those who are intimidated by prayer,
those who are wondering if they are doing it “right”
those who have never spoken to God,
those who speak to God in private and have never shared their words.

UNCOMPLICATED PRAYER is envisioned as a collection of your prayers for me, gifted to others: The intimacy of my moment intersecting theirs.

To say that there is a casual way to reach the heart of an all-powerful God is a contradiction in terms. Yet, perhaps we make prayer too complicated and as a result, we refuse, forget, walk away, delay from the opportunity to converse with the One who knows the situation better than anyone.

My best prayers are organic utterances that come from a different place than my everyday self. They surprise me, minister to me, draw me closer to the one I am praying for and to Him.

What do your prayers sound like? How do they make you feel?

Let’s write this book together. Because the words poured over and prayed for me are for all of us. They are words of faith, belief, hope, life that every one of us needs to hear.

NOTES:

When I initially shared my idea for Uncomplicated Prayer with my friend and renowned author, Dan Reiland, he immediately replied by sharing his favorite, simple prayer:

Jesus. Help Me.
Such an uncomplicated prayer. 
Even Jesus was uncomplicated with his supplications when he taught us to pray:

Our Father in Heaven
You are holy and revered.
Scatter your will across the Earth so that we may catch a glimpse of  Heaven.
Feed us. Forgive us. Lead us away from the things that are not of you.
You are the powerful, glorious King who reigns forever.

Through Uncomplicated Prayer I am gifting the words of prayer spoken over me to be infused in the story of others going through the hard thing.

I won’t ask you to be a part of this. I am going to just assume you will. Because your words will bless others in ways you can never imagine.

To learn more about your involvement send me an email at jkraft@sanctuaryliving.net.

Because…I love you.

FOOTNOTE:

This past Monday my prayer team organized a love-fest on zoom. Being the center of attention is [understatement] not easy for me but sometimes God pulls us out of our comfort zone to ensure growth transpires. These women are the best-of-the best, they challenge and inspire. And in the midst of all their wisdom was the virtual laying of hands [yes, it’s a thing] and a great deal of unrehearsed, spontaneous, powerful prayer.

Why are we so shy about allowing our Heavenly Father to love us through others in this way?

If you’re going through something, don’t be too proud or shy to ask for help, to covet prayer.

PRAYER, IT SEEMS, IS AS UNCOMPLICATED AS THIS. TO CONNECT TO WHAT IS FELT BY SOMEONE ELSE, AND THEN TO FEEL IT TOO—JANENE KRAFT