Many people have asked me this same question, often with a quiet worry in their voice: “Am I praying the right way?” We can feel pressure to sound wise, reverent, or eloquent when we speak to God. Yet beneath that concern is something very tender—a longing to know whether God truly welcomes us just as we are, with our plain words and unpolished hearts.
The beautiful truth is this: God is not impressed by our vocabulary, but He is moved by our sincerity. In the Gospels, Jesus gently warns us not to pile up words as if God must be convinced or informed. He reminds us that our Father already knows what we need before we ask. In Gospel of Matthew, Jesus invites us into a prayer that is simple and direct—the Our Father—a prayer made of ordinary words that open the door to extraordinary grace.
When we speak to God simply, we are not being careless; we are being honest. Simplicity in prayer is not a lack of reverence—it is often the purest form of it. Like a child who runs to a parent without rehearsing what to say, we come trusting that we are loved. God desires our hearts far more than our speeches. He listens not only to what we say, but to what we cannot yet put into words.
The Church has always known this gentle truth. Some of the greatest saints prayed with few words, sometimes with only a single phrase or even silence. What mattered was their openness—their willingness to stand before God without masks. Simple prayer allows us to be real, and it is in that reality that God meets us most deeply. He is not distant or demanding; He is near and attentive.
In daily life, this means you can speak to God as you would to someone who loves you completely. You can tell Him when you are tired, confused, grateful, or afraid. You can whisper a short prayer while working, driving, or lying awake at night. Prayer does not need to be long to be true. Sometimes a quiet “Lord, help me” or “Thank You for being with me” is enough to open your soul to grace.
So yes—be simple with God. Be direct. Be yourself. Faith is not about performing well before God; it is about trusting that you are already seen and loved. When you pray from the heart, even with the simplest words, heaven listens.
A Closing Reflection
May we never be afraid to approach God with honest hearts and humble words. In simplicity, we discover not weakness, but a deep and living trust in His love.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way.
