My junior year at FHU, I took a class called “Christian Worship.” In the class, we analyzed in intricate detail how a Christian can work to perfect the meaning of worshiping in spirit and in truth (John 4:23).

One of our assignments included taking particular passages of scripture and inserting them into our own personal prayers. The idea was to encourage us to conceptualize having an actual reciprocal conversation with the Father.

It was a challenging and thought-provoking exercise. I encourage you to try it!

Here’s the prayer I wrote for the assignment:

Pray It Back to God (Taken from Matthew 6:7, 19, 20; 5: 13-16)

Dear Father,

Please know that this prayer is from my heart. When I pray, help me to avoid heaping up empty phrases. I know you will hear me and know what I need before I even ask. I know that you know my heart and it’s unnecessary to be anything but myself before you, because you know my innermost thoughts.

You have instructed me not to lay up for myself treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, so my prayer is for nothing material or worldly. What I do need is whatever will draw me closer to you and your grace. Help me to lay for myself treasures in heaven, where nothing decays and I can be with you and my family forever.

Father, you know that forgiveness is such a hard concept for me to grasp, but help me to learn to forgive limitlessly to those who ask it of me, up to 70 times 7. I know that if I cannot forgive others their trespasses, neither will my Father forgive MY trespasses.

Finally, I know that you’ve instructed me to let my light shine before others so that they may see your good works. Help me to glorify you by simply being a set of hands, a mouthpiece and a light for your words and your love.

In Your Son’s Holy Name,

Amen.