The Silent Treatment

I don’t know about you, but I like Hallmark romance movies. They’re fun. In almost every Hallmark romance movie, there’s a time when, in the relationship, someone gets upset and they do something called “the silent treatment.” Now, I have watched enough of those to realize that “the silent treatment” is a terrible way to mend a relationship. So, I like to say, with regards to prayer, that there’s only one wrong way to say a prayer, and that is by using the silent treatment…which is not praying.

There are so many ways to pray. There are so many ways to talk to our Heavenly Father, to our God, to our creator, to our maker, and probably only one way to do it wrong. And that’s just by not doing it. I have had a lot of different experiences with prayer throughout my life and I want to share some of those stories with you. 

Counting a Prayer?

At one time in my life, I was having some particularly severe mental issues. My brain was just giving up on me, and I was just so exhausted. I was just so tired. Well, I knelt at the end of the day to say a prayer, and I got to the number 20 before I realized that I was counting and not praying as I had intended. I was upset and embarrassed. I told my husband and we kind of laughed it off a little bit. But it was hard. And you know what? I don’t think it was wrong. I think God heard that prayer. I got rest, and I got support. That prayer was answered. I got what I needed. My brain healed and I could think again. I could think clearly and that prayer was answered.  

Other Types of Prayer

There were other times in my life where I would get on my knees, and try to pray, but I just couldn’t think of the right words. I just didn’t have any words to describe what I was going through, because it was so hard. But I knelt anyway, and I think God heard me, because He knows my heart. And because He knows I was trying to reach out to Him, even though I had no words.

There are other times that I remember praying and it was more like yelling. And I yelled to God, “Why is this so hard? Why is my life so hard?” Just basically complaining and whining to Him. Some people might think that’s disrespectful. But as a parent, I would rather have my kids opening up and being vocal, rather than just not talking to me. It’s hard to help someone who won’t ask or won’t share what they’re going through. And I think it’s okay to yell sometimes, because He understands. He’s the perfect parent, and He wants to know.

There are other types of prayers, prayers of overwhelming gratitude for beautiful, wonderful blessings. I have said many, many of those. Life is so beautiful. We live in a gorgeous world, and we are surrounded by amazing people. And there’s a lot to be grateful for.

Another type of prayer is one of repentance. Repentance is changing our minds, realizing that we’ve done something or said something that, looking back, we regret. And we don’t want to do that anymore, so we say sorry and we ask for forgiveness, and those are good prayers.

Have You Thought of…

What are some different prayers that you have said in your life. What are some ways that you have prayed? Have you ever tried writing your prayers? I have dont that a few times. It works out really well. How about while brushing your teeth? Sometimes people need to be moving to have a clear mind. Have you ever tried praying in your car? Have you ever knelt in prayer? Have you ever prayed in nature? There are so many ways to pray, and only one way to do it wrong. That is by just not doing it at all. I encourage you to pray. God loves you. He misses you. He wants to talk. He wants to chat. So talk to Him today.