First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for Kings and all who are in high positions. – 1 Timothy 2:1-2

How is your prayer life? In a letter to his barber in the spring of 1535, Martin Luther stated, “I will tell you as best I can how I approach prayer, and may our dear Lord grant to you and to everybody, to do it better than I.” Evidently, you are in good company if you find prayer to be challenging at times!

Jesus prayed regularly and often, and He had much to say about it. Before giving them the example in the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus shared with His disciples the secret of talking to God. Basically, He said, “keep it real.” He challenged them not to use fancy, meaningless words or act overly pious. Christ urged them to get alone with the Father, as He did, and be honest.

For some people, raw honesty with God may feel irreverent or sacrilegious. The reality is, while He already knows what is going on, the Father is still interested in hearing you transparently share with Him! If you want a good example of real people praying real prayers, read the entire book of Psalms. You will find a very human honesty there. Christ Jesus, deep in His human suffering, uttered the request “remove this cup from me” before saying, “not my will but yours be done.”

Today, it may be hard to pray for people you do not like or agree with. Despite disappointing political and cultural events, pray anyway. Simply tell God what is on your heart and mind, mentioning leaders and events by name. The Lord will accomplish His will, but He considers your transparent requests. And that could make the difference in your life and for the United States.