The Men of Iron Minute
by Chad Zueck | Director of Content Creation
Wordy Prayers
Have you ever been in a group setting, and the person keeps going on and on while praying over their meal? If you are like me, I want to look at the dude and say, “Come on, let’s eat tacos already!” Prayer is essential, and prayer is helpful. We are invited to pray over many things: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6, NIV84[1] This includes those tacos that were getting cold. At the same time, the prayer warrior took on the form of Honest Abe during the Gettysburg Address.
A stumbling block for young and old believers is mistaking the length of prayers for the effectiveness of prayers. Jesus blew this myth up in Matthew 6:5-8, “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” [2]
Boom! The effectiveness of your prayers is not bound to the length of your prayers.
Pray simply.
Eat tacos.
This week’s Men of Iron Minutes are directed at breaking myths around prayer. Each blog was inspired by Episode 179 of the Men of Iron Podcast entitled, “Tools for a Healthy Marriage, Part 1”. Don’t this out!
Be a mentor.
Find a mentor.
Be a better man.
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[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), Php 4:6.
[2] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), Mt 6:5–8.