O God, be not far from me;
O my God, make haste to help me! Psalms 71:12
There are times for calm prayers. But there are also those times for some intensity in our conversations with our Father. Most of us have learned to pray those calm and carefully stated prayers because that is what we have heard. (Think: Sunday worship services, small groups and those brief prayers before meals.) But it makes no sense to offer these sedate prayers when life is starting to fall apart. That's the time for a little intensity.
I remember an evening when Linda and I were invited to dinner at the home of an elder of the church where we were members. The final preparations for the meal were not coming together as smoothly as our hostess was hoping for. So, in the midst of the growing chaos I heard her suddenly say, and with not just a little volume, 'Lord, do something!!' I was a bit shocked at the thought of anyone, especially someone I respected as a faithful disciple, speaking to God in this way. It seemed disrespectful. And yet, over time, I have come to see not just the honesty but also the wisdom of her rather sharp prayer. She needed some serious help and that quickly before she fell apart and fell into sin. Our psalmist would agree.
The reputation of the Church before the world is at a low point. And is there any wonder? What is needed is a pious Christianity practiced out there in the world. The key to that are the habits of prayer among the saints. And that will include offering up prayers that are sometimes sharp and abrupt, prayers that reflect what's really going on, heartfelt cries to the Father. That's what the psalmist did.