Simple Prayer

Sometimes, I get so bogged down with life that I overcomplicate prayer. I get in this mindset that I it has to be quiet in the room, or I need to quote scripture, or that is has to be beautiful words that will maybe impress Him. Doesn't that sound silly?!?!?!?! I forget about WHO it is that I am talking to and what HE desires of me.

Today at lunch it was Ella's turn to pray. At 3 1/2 yrs old, I am trying to gently steer her away from the standard, "Thank you for the food."-type prayers and encourage her to speak to God in these times, so before she started I reminded her to remember WHO she was talking to. We closed our eyes and bowed our heads and she started, in her sweet, little voice:

"God.................... I love you.............................Amen."

It was beautiful. It was simple. It reminded me of why I was made; to glorify HIM. I distinctly remember thinking "Me too." when she said it. Prayer isn't really about me; not really. It is a means God has given me to communicate with Him and to share my life with Him, of course. But, ultimately, it is my means to praise and glorify Him; a way to show my adoration to him and to worship Him. It doesn't have to be some long, proper speech that could be typed out, framed, and hung on a wall. He just wants me to ACTIVELY be His child; to love on Him.

I think that I WILL type this sweet prayer down that my little Ella made this afternoon. As simple as it is, I imagine that her Father in Heaven got the same goosebumps I did when He heard her say : o)