THE POWER OF A TIMID PRAYER - - - - - by Max Lucado

If you struggle with prayer, I've got just the guy for you.

The father's prayer isn't much, but the answer is and the result  
reminds us: The power is not in the prayer; it's in the one who hears  
it.

He prayed out of desperation. His son, his only son, was demon- 
possessed. Not only was he a deaf mute and an epileptic, he was also  
possessed by an evil spirit. Ever since the boy was young, the demon  
had thrown him into fires and water.  The father had to remain on  
call, on alert twenty-four hours a day. He was desperate and tired,  
and his prayer reflects both.

"If you can do anything for him, please have pity on us and help us."

Listen to that prayer. Does it sound courageous? Confident? Strong?  
Hardly.

If his prayer sounds like yours, then don't be discouraged, for  
that's where prayer begins.

It begins as a yearning. An honest appeal. No pretense. No boasting.  
No posturing. Just prayer. Feeble prayer, but prayer nonetheless.

We are tempted to wait to pray until we know how to pray.

Good thing this man didn't make the same mistake. He wasn't much of a  
pray-er. And his wasn't much of a prayer. He even admits it! "I do  
believe," he implored. "Help me to believe more" (see Mark 9:24).

This prayer isn't destined for a worship manual. No Psalm will result  
from his utterance. His was simple-no incantation or chant. But Jesus  
responded. He responded, not to the eloquence of the man, but to the  
pain of the man.