The Real Prayer

I remember the moment of worship though it was over twenty-five years ago.  It was a community Thanksgiving service sponsored by the local ministerial association.  The service began with a prayer from the Episcopal priest who shared a prayer from "The Book of Common Prayer."  After the service had ended and we were walking toward separate departures, I overhead one of the more independent minded pastors saying a bit too loudly,"...it wasn't a real prayer, it was one read from a book."  For him the only real prayer was the extemporaneous prayer which he would say came from his heart and not a book.    

Even though I did not then agree with his assessment of the offered prayer, I can understand that he came from a tradition that regards liturgy with suspicion.  But, it is also true that "The Lord's Prayer" is a written prayer from a book and was likely used often in the church where he preached.  It is always true that our criticism of others does not require consistent practice in our own life.  

So, according to his definition, maybe "The Lord's Prayer" is not a real prayer since it comes from a book and not from the heart.   Actually, any real prayer, the ones read and the ones created in the moment of need are real if they come from the heart.  David wrote in the 51st Psalm, "...a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."  (Psalm 51:17)  Whether we read the words from a book, or pray them extemporaneously, it becomes a real prayer only when the words come from a broken and contrite heart.