Speak to the Lord in Prayer

When Lyndon Johnson was President of the United States they were having an

early morning prayer breakfast in the White House for the staff members.

Bill Moyers was the press secretary for Mr. Johnson.  He was also a seminary

trained and ordained Baptist preacher. 

President Johnson called on Bill Moyers to lead in prayer before the meal.

As he was praying President Johnson broke in and said, "Bill, You'll have to

speak up.  I can't hear you."  Without ever looking up and with only a short

pause Bill Moyers said, "I wasn't talking to you, Mr. President."

To whom are we speaking when we pray?  The Model prayer in Matthew 6

instructs us to pray, "Our Father, which art in heaven." (Matthew 6:9)  When

we pray at church are we more mindful of the people around us or of the Lord

to whom we are speaking?  Sometimes I feel that it is easy to get caught up

in attempting to impress the people around us with our prayers.  When we

pray even the President of the United States is small potatoes compared to

the One whom we are addressing.