A Hook in the Nose


How's your prayer life?  Do you ever find yourself getting stuck in clichés?  Are these 
phrases familiar? 

"guard, guide, direct" 
"this day and all our blessings" 
"the sick and afflicted"

What if the family grocery list was that generic?  It might read, "vegetable," "meat," or 
"spice."  Not very helpful in planning to meet specific family needs, right?

While these prayer phrases may certainly be appropriate at times, they can also 
become a lazy man's prayers—generalities with little personal stake.  They're certainly 
not revealing of what is actually on one's heart.  Although God may not need to be 
reminded exactly which hospital room a dear sister is in and how many stitches she 
had, one can't help but suspect that both God and the dear sister would appreciate a 
specific name being mentioned, as well as a specific plea! 

I like the word "plea."  It sounds heartfelt.  It implies personal involvement and emotion.  
Webster defines it as an earnest request.  In 2 Chronicles 33, Manasseh, king of Judah, 
had been taken prisoner, shackled with a hook in his nose.  The story says that, in his 
distress (I imagine that being shackled with a hook in your nose WOULD bring a great 
deal of distress!), he sought the favor of the Lord and humbled himself greatly before 
God.  When he prayed, the Lord listened to his plea and was moved to the extent that 
he returned Manasseh to his kingdom.

Did you notice the emotion of the underlined words?  Heartfelt, earnest requests—pleas 
to which  God listened and responded.

How's your prayer life?  Don't let it take a "hook in the nose" to change clichés to pleas.


"…in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your 
requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all 
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."   

Philippians 4:6-7