This week is Thanksgiving and among the interesting things that may go on around your holiday table are the humorous prayers of those who do not normally talk to the Lord. I am not endorsing the film, but consider the silly meanderings of Greg Focker in the film Meet the Parents:

“O dear God we thank you. You are such a good God to us. A kind and gentle and accommodating God. And we thank you O sweet, sweet Lord of hosts for the smorgasbord you have so aptly lain at our table this day, and each day, day by day, day by day, O dear Lord. Three things we pray, to love more dearly to see thee more clearly to follow thee more nearly, day by day, by day. Amen.”

I wonder sometimes if the Lord chuckles a bit at the vain attempt of unbelievers to connect with the God of the universe that they normally ignore. But as soon as I begin to think that way, I realize that I too have been known to “zone out” while I pray.

Truth is, sometimes our connection to the Lord is so perfunctory that it lacks any semblance of a real relationship.

Other times, we occupy our prayer time with a seemingly endless diatribe of needs, worries, requests and concerns. It almost as if we are using a hand-held walkie talkie and had the key pushed down all the time.  We don’t give Him any opportunity to speak into our lives, we just prattle on.

So perhaps you will join me this week in looking for some significant moments to spend alone with the Lord. And during that time, let’s make every effort to focus our attention entirely on Him.

Let’s spend a good bit of time concentrating on who He is, what He has done on our behalf and how grateful we are for life itself.

That prayer might begin with….”Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be YOUR name.”