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Most of us grew up learning to talk to God in special ways. We learned careful phrases that sounded stilted and unnatural. It feels uncomfortable to talk to God; it's as though in prayer we had to speak a second language, one we weren't fluent it.

Fortunately, it doesn't need to be that way. Those in history who have been the most dedicated to prayer tell us that the simplest prayer is often the best. God is not impressed by flowery language. It was Jesus himself who taught us to pray with radical informality and intimacy; he taught us to call the creator of the universe "Daddy". We need not dress up our words for God.

We are allowed, then, to talk to God just like we would talk to any other person. A prayer does not need to start with a formal salutation when a simple "Good morning, God" would do just as well. Likewise, we need not burden our prayers with convoluted phrases like "Lord, we beseech thee..."; instead, it is sometimes easier just to say "I'm worried about..." and "please help".

One way of making our communication with God more lifelike is to remember that he is always with us. I sometimes give myself a visual reminder by pulling up a chair and imagine God sitting in it. Then I find it easier to talk to God in whatever way comes to mind.

Speaking to God in our own words may not come naturally. Like being on a first date, beginning a conversation with God can feel awkward. But over time, we can find ourselves more at ease. Eventually we may find ourselves speaking to God as we would to a friend- which, of course, is what God longs for us to be.

Learn more about this author, Rebecca Miller.
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