“Dear Jesus, thank you.  That’s all. Amen.”

You know, us adults might find that silly or we might feel we are too mature for such a simplistic prayer.  We seem to think that our prayers should be Nobel contenders or should make people envious of our great prayer skills, but you know what?

Then a few nights ago, when I was putting one of my daughters to bed, who had been in some trouble that day for not obeying prayed the following:

“Dear Jesus, I thank you for mommy and daddy and that they love me even when I disobey them.  Please help them to forgive me and give them new experiences tomorrow.”

There is a reason Jesus said not to suffer the little children to come to Him. There is a reason Jesus said that we must be like a child to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

I wonder if sometimes when we pray our big fancy prayers with big fancy words, if they get filed into the “Heard that before” category.  You know…the same category us parents put many of the daily ramblings of our children into.  The category that’s not quite ignored, but not really acted upon in a fast way because it’s the same thing day in and day out.

But the prayers of our little ones, that are spoken in utmost sincerity and open honesty are the ones that get heard and touch our Father’s heart the most.

Maybe we need to learn to pray.  First, perhaps, we should learn how NOT to pray.  The big fancy words might impress our friends and other church members, but they don’t impress God at all.  I always find it amusing when people pray in Old English as if that is the language God speaks just because their KJV Bibles are written in that way.

I think that it’s the “Dear Jesus, thank You, that’s all” prayers from 2 year olds that will always bring pleasure to Him.

Before you get all mad at me and think I’ve lost my mind, think about it. Really. The very word “Christian” in it’s origin, was always derogatory. It was meant as an insult to the first Christians. Yet they wore the label proudly. Many American Christians have lost what it really means to be a Christian. Ask any one that has been a missionary in a third world country. They will tell you that the Christians over there are a lot different. They don’t take their faith for granted. They know that at any moment they could be killed for stating what they believe in.

They are willing to LOSE IT ALL to serve Jesus.

Yet in our country we preach our prosperity gospels. For some reason we think that God wants us to have our heart’s desires. We quote Matthew 7:7 as our mantra. “Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. Ask and you shall receive.” We seem to think that this verse means that our heart’s desires will be given to us if all we do is ask. But, it’s really not talking about Earthly wants and desires, but rather our true needs. Sure, Christ COULD have died and saved us ALL without us having to ask, but that’s not at all what happened. He wants us to seek, knock and ask. He didn’t create us to be puppets at his own beck and call. We have to realize that no matter what we do, we cannot save ourselves. We have to admit that we are losers without Him. We have to ask Him to save us.

Yes, people. Jesus is for losers. The Self Made need not apply.

I remember back in the 90s when Steve Taylor released an ablum called Squint, he had a song called “Jesus Is For Losers.” Naturally, this raised my eyebrow, but after I read the lyrics, I really came to appreciate what was being said. Check out these lyrics. The one line that really gets me every single time I hear it…Jesus is for losers…broken at the foot of the cross. I love it.

Jesus Is For Losers

Just as I am
I am stiff-necked and proud
Jesus is for losers
Why do I still play to the crowd?

Just as I am
Pass the compass, please
Jesus is for losers
I’m off about a hundred degrees

If I was groping
Groping around for some ladder to fame
I am ashamed

If I was hoping
Hoping respect would make a sturdy footstool
I am a fool

Bone-weary every climb
Blindsided every time

Just as I am
I am needy and dry
Jesus is for losers
The self-made need not apply

Just as I am
In a desert crawl
Lord, I’m so thirsty
Take me to the waterfall

And if you’re certain
Certain your life is some cosmic mistake
Why do you shake?

And if you’re certain
Certain that faith is some know-nothing mask
Why do you still ask?

They don’t grade here on the curve
We both know what we deserve

Just as you are
Just a wretch like me
Jesus is for losers
Grace from the blood of a tree

Just as we are
At a total loss
Jesus is for losers
Broken at the foot of the cross

Just as I am
Pass the compass, please
Jesus is for losers
I’m off about a hundred degrees

Just as I am
In a desert crawl
Lord, I’m so thirsty
Take me to the waterfall