Why I’ve been lost for words in church lately

Chine McDonald finds a new power in silent prayer

Recently, as I was leading prayers at church for our world, I found myself floundering. 

I was raised in a tradition in which the art of oratory was prized, and well-crafted, spontaneous prayers were a sign of piety. Through your spoken prayers, you could demonstrate your knowledge of scripture. The more fervent your prayers – for healing, new jobs or house sales – the more likely God was to grant your request. None of this was said, of course, nor do I believe it was conscious or malicious, but it reflected our view of who God was.