How I love these simple words from Charles Spurgeon. (Click to tweet!)
“Short prayers are long enough.”
Spurgeon writes, “There were but three words in the petition that Peter gasped out, but they were sufficient for this purpose. Not length but strength is desirable. A sense of need is a mighty teacher of brevity. (Click to tweet!) If our prayers had less of the tail feathers of pride and more wing, they would be all the better. Verbiage is to devotion as chaff to the wheat. Precious things lie in small compass, and all that is real prayer in many a long address might have been uttered in a petition as short as that of Peter.”
But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Matthew 14:30
Lord, save me.
GRACE, my friends.
After a weary last week, I pray for GRACE.
Less tail feathers of pride, more wing. (Click to tweet!)
Spurgeon’s comment is interesting – the tail feathers provide stability, without which the wing would be uncontrollable. More wing, without more tail feathers, would simply make the problem worse.
In ;’Hamlet’, Shakespeare said, “Words with thoughts never to heaven go”. I wonder if our pride is a necessary stabilizer. Peter’ was clearly a very confident, and somewhat arrogant man…and did that give gravitas to his simple prayer?
Perhaps.
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for your insight. Interesting thought, that Peter’s pride might have turned his prayer into a subtle demand…
When I read this, I only thought of my rooster with his tail feathers all for show…his PRIDE, his FLAIR, his FINERY. That’s me – except I’m human and female. I tend to wave my fine words around with dramatic flair that says, “Heare Ye! Heare Ye, Lord! The wondrously-feathered Becky speaketh!”
I’m just glad God listens to my “Grace, Lord. Please.” prayers, as attentively, if not more so, as He does to my more pedantic offerings.
Blessings and continued prayers for you and Barb,
Becky
The wondourously-feathered Becky speaketh…I LOVE it!
It reminded me of our Jack Russell, Rufus Theodore (“rough gift from God’). He has a tightly-curled tail which he carries high over his back, and he’s got more attitude than a quartet of Pit Bulls.
But when he has a request, a prayer, if you will, to us, his tail is combined with a winsome raising of one front paw. It’s a reminder of the ‘innocence of arrogance’, with which I think Peter totally charmed Jesus.
And yes, “Save me, Lord!:” is a subtle demand. As God calls us to our duty, so do our prayers call Him to His.
God bless!
Andrew & Barbara (& Rufus!)
Becky,
I think impetuous Peter stepped out of the boat, but fearful Peter recognized his absolute need for Jesus to save him…which is all about grace…nothing we can do for ourselves, but cry out. “Lord save me”….I’m feeling that way today about a situation that takes me way out of my comfort zone and into ‘walking on water’ with Jesus. I can only cry out, help Lord, I need you. I think I know how Peter felt…and I don’t see pride there…maybe some unbelief when he started to sink…which brings us back to grace to believe God has the power to come help us when life threatens to drown us.
Glenda – your words spoke sweetly to this impetuous girl. Grace. It really is all we need. So why do we constantly try to do for ourselves what He wants to do for us? Always learning, always slipping, always drifting, and always in need of His hand. Grace. I’m so glad He freely gives it.
Hugs,
Becky