Perhaps you remember a time when you had a chance to meet an idol or a hero. In anticipation of such an encounter, you may have played and replayed the conversation ahead of time in your head: questions you wanted to ask, complements or comments that you might have liked to voice. A meeting with someone we admire can be a nerve wracking experience.
I wonder if anyone has been nervous as they prepare to speak with God in prayer. The human heart can easily be convinced of the fact that more words need to be spoken, especially when we are nervous, and we can also repeat our prayers using different words, all in hopes of giving voice to our deepest desires in just the right way. However, Jesus reassures us that we need not worry about the words we use when we pray. In fact, he says: when you pray, do not babble ... (Mt 6:7).
Instead, Jesus assures us that our Father knows what we need, even before we ask (cf Mt 6:8). Therefore, we should learn to pray using conversational language, like trusting children who are speaking with a loving parent.
Have a great day.
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