Do you ever forget to pray? I have. Many times. Whether we forget to pray for a day or for a decade, we can always start again.
Having kids made me pray in ways I never imagined. Not elaborate prayers, but more desperate prayers. Prayers that came from a place of knowing that I can’t control everything that happens in their lives.
Every day before my kids get on the bus to head to school I pray for them. It’s a quick prayer (some days quicker than others) and always has the same footnote:
Dear God, please keep them safe.
One day we were rushed and I forgot to pray. Between grabbing backpacks and running out the door, I ran out of time. As the bus pulled away my heart sank. And for a split second I worried a bit more about their safety. I worried that my missed prayer would change whether God would keep them safe.
Where I Had It Wrong
I prayed like I was ordering off a drive thru menu. While I asked for things like keeping them safe or helping them sleep or healing a cold, it was often a list of requests just shy of demands. This gave the illusion of relationship but missed the heart of it. I had it all wrong.
What God Really Sees
My prayers were never about demands, but about going to God. In-between items on my wish list, God saw my heart.
With my morning bus stop prayer, He saw my fear and my worry. He saw the love I have for my kids. God even saw my desire for control and coming to terms with my lack.
He saw it all, and He still listened.
When we pray, God knows our hearts. And when we forget to pray, He still knows our hearts.
Why Prayer Really Matters
It’s easy to think our specific words or the timing of them is what matters most. But God isn’t waiting for us to speak some magical password phrase to unlock the door of his blessing. He isn’t holding back his grace until we utter the right words with our head bowed and our hands folded. God is at work all the time, and the reason He wants us to pray is because He longs to be in relationship with us.
I still pray for my kids before they leave. I still ask God to be with them and help them and protect them. I do this because it is my heart for them. It is as much for me as it is for them. I pray to remind me of who is in control, and that prayer isn’t ordering at a drive thru. It’s about the heart.
How to Come Back When You Forget to Pray
When I forget to pray, like I did that morning, I remember that coming back to God is as simple as praying again. It doesn’t require anything fancy, and it doesn’t matter how long it’s been. God always knows my heart. And He knows yours too.
We can come back to God every time we forget to pray. We don’t need to wait for a new day or a Monday or a plan. Simply pray. That’s the way back when you forget. Pray.
If you want a simple way to reignite your prayer life, check out this free prayer journal today!
“And when we forget to pray, He still knows our hearts.” Yes! I’m so thankful that God doesn’t work only when I ask him to, but that he is always working not only for my good but also for the good of those I love and for people everywhere. He is such a good and loving God.