How We Usually Pray (and How We Could Do It Better)

Remember that scene in Bruce Almighty where Bruce gets swamped by millions of prayers?

"Please let me win the lottery."
"Please get me that promotion."
"Please make my ex call me back."

So what does he do? He panics and hits “YES to all” just to make the requests go away. Chaos ensues.

It’s funny… and a little familiar.

Most of us—myself included—tend to pray for outcomes.

"Please let this conversation go well."
"Please don’t let me mess this up."
"Please let them forgive me."

And hey, there’s nothing wrong with wanting good outcomes. Of course we do. But here’s something I’ve learned (and re-learned, even as a priest): it’s usually more helpful to pray for what I can actually receive: clarity, courage, grace, patience.

A friend of mine was wrestling with this not long ago. She had a friendship that had gone sideways. She wanted to reach out, but every time she sat down to write the message or attempt a phone call, she froze.

Her first instinct was to pray: “Please let this go well. Please let her respond kindly.”

When we talked, I gently suggested: “What if, instead of trying to steer the outcome, you asked the Holy Spirit to help you with how you show up in the conversation?”

She paused, nodded, and prayed: "Holy Spirit, help me be clear. Help me be kind. Help me listen well. Help me stay steady even if it’s awkward."

When I spoke with her again, she recounted that the conversation wasn’t flawless, but it was honest and moved things forward. And she left it feeling lighter because she’d shown up with grace.
That’s one of the beautiful things about Pentecost–it reminds us the Holy Spirit is still with us, helping us in the middle of real life, everyday stuff.

So here’s my invitation for the week: Think of one situation you’ve been worrying about or overthinking. A conversation, a decision, whatever it is but something you’ve been putting off.

Before you take the next step, pause. Pray: "Holy Spirit, help me show up with grace, courage, and clarity—whatever happens."

Then go forward.

You don’t have to do it alone.

God Bless.
FF