Do We Have To Insert a Poem Inside Our Prayers?

Prayer has always been a messenger medium from us to God. Unlike million years ago in the time of the prophets, we live in an era where believer “see” with faith not eyes, thus the way we communicate with  God is through prayers not as lucky as Moses did back then with a more of face to face method which actually more convenient somehow. Prayer is so essential that in a Sunday service there's a specific prayer prosession called intercession (cmiiw) to pray for everything (asking guidance based on what the preach was about, family, people who are sick, church, student, worker, country, even single people, etc.). So yeah prayer is something very basic and important in a religion. It's so important that the phrase "the power of prayer" exists. It is powerful when it's done right, right? It makes people feel calm and secure for most of the time. Prayers are powerful because it has the possibility of being "converted" into a miracle (with the permission of God, of course).

Somehow despite the meaning of Christianity, I sometimes feel more comfortable to say I believe in Jesus and admire his teaching rather than saying I'm a Christian. Because sometimes in certain communities the word Christian (or Catholic as well) feels more like a label people put on their head rather than a faith (no offense). Their perfection just feels different. As a non-model Christian (if I may say, hahaha) I do often feel uncomfortable with certain groups of people who seem like they're so diligent in applying Christianity or at least trying to look so diligent for the sake of “Christian image”. Unfortunately I can’t sense the sparks of Jesus' love or teachings from them like I am supposed to, because I feel like they present their best only in church or christian community and thus create a certain exclusiveness. Instead of being encouraged or inspired, I am overwhelmed. I'm so sorry, but yeah, the more they're doing their religious routine, the more I feel disconnected. That includes prayers.

Because sometimes in certain communities the word Christian (or Catholic as well) 

feels more like a label people put on their head rather than a faith (no offense). 

Their perfection just feels different.

Unfortunately I can’t sense the sparks of Jesus' love or teachings from them like I am supposed to, because I feel like they present their best only in church or christian community and thus create a certain exclusiveness.

That experience brings me to question: why do many people put "poems" in prayer as a way to apply or showcase their religiosity? I've been wondering a lot about this. I actually don't want to judge how people praise God/Jesus, because I know how uncomfortable it feels when people doubt your faith based on routines only, but I just can't avoid the cringe when I hear a certain way of praying. This makes me pray inside prayers. The other side of my brain follows that person's prayer while the other side of my brain asks for God's mercy because I can't avoid the instant discomfort while hearing that person's prayer. This is an example, more or less: "Dear God we gather here to deliver our prayer because we believe You're The Almighty, Our Mountain, The Light in The Darkness, The King of The Kings who'll never leave us and whose promise is loyal, please bless us this lowly servant because we know we are as weak as a lost sheep. Please our Holy Shepherd save us from these trials, we know Your power is majestic as all the creatures surrender in Your presence, no one's name is higher than Yours. Relieve us from this pain with Your heavenly holy grace. The little birds and flowers in the meadow are blessed with Your love (quoting a song), please have mercy for us the lost believers. Our Lord The Master of The Chamber in Our Heart (seriously this one exists, I just heard it) grants us wisdom to be salt and light for this wicked world, and so on and so on..” I guess you got what I mean right? They make prayers long but somehow feel empty. Maybe I’m just overthinking or not religious enough? Hahaha.. Well… I’m sorry if my prayers are too “straight to the point”, because I personally feel like I can’t cover up myself with beautiful words like that while praying since I know God knows I’m a mess already, no need to disguise my intention in any aesthetic form hahaha..

I’m sorry if my prayers are too “straight to the point”, because I personally feel like I can’t cover up myself with beautiful words like that while praying since I know God knows I’m a mess already, no need to disguise my intention in any aesthetic form hahaha..

Not complaining for the long prayer basically, I don’t mind long prayer as long as the prayer is clear, not simply an “art performance” because… please we’re no King David, hahaha.. Just kidding. I mean.. stop trying too hard. Simply concluded, we don’t need to bribe God in our prayer with beautiful words. There are other mediums like gospel songs or poem books if we want to express our further aesthetic in worshiping God. Sometimes I lose the essence of prayers because people like to sugarcoat their prayer, in circumstances of public or group occasions of course. I don’t know with other people but I can sense their “trying too much” aspect while praying in public because sometimes they get lost in between trying to find aesthetic sentences to fill in the prayers. What’s the real intention? Is it sending prayers to God or performing a prayer show in public? That should be our consideration in living a religion. Let’s be more authentique in front of God. I can’t run away from these thoughts no matter how much effort I put in to keep following those kinds of prayers in public occasions and stay focused only on God while praying.

I don’t mind long prayer as long as the prayer is clear, not simply an “art performance”

Simply concluded, we don’t need to bribe God in our prayer with beautiful words. 

There are other mediums like gospel songs or poem books if we want to express our further aesthetic in worshiping God. Sometimes I lose the essence of prayers because people like to sugarcoat their prayer [...]

My point is, I’m not saying their worshiping method is purely wrong. However only God can define it, right? I just want people to know that “sugarcoating” prayer and making it sound poetic is not the only good way. I hope people can see this as a new perspective and also an opportunity to evaluate themself if they feel like they're inauthentic by doing too much in creating poetic prayers or doing it just because that’s the standard infused by their community. What’s the point of bribing God in prayers with those beautiful words, while God already knows every single side of us, inside and out. There's a thin line between praising God and unawarely trying to bribe God with poetic words (if that's even make sense, hahaha... bribing God? come on..). That poetic prayer is not the standard. Unfortunately sometimes some people are hesitant to lead a prayer in public or group occasions just because they are simply not confident in making a beautiful prayer. I believe God will accept any form of our prayer whether it’s simple or filled with beautiful words, as long as it is sincere and driven from within the heart. No need to put a certain “performance” as an effort in proofing that we're a good God believer.

I just want people to know that “sugarcoating” prayer and making it sound poetic is not the only good way. I hope people can see this as a new perspective and also an opportunity to evaluate themself if they feel like they're inauthentic by doing too much in creating poetic prayers or doing it just because that’s the standard infused by their community.

There's a thin line between praising God and 

unawarely trying to bribe God with poetic words [...]

No need to put a certain “performance”  as an effort in proofing we're a good God believer.

Actually the point is.. God loves us and our imperfection no matter what. Giving our best in worshiping and praising God is encouraged, but don’t overdo it and lose your sincere heart and soul in the process. I wish, in living the religion, we don’t aim for quantity and imagery, instead seek for quality in the form of self growth and spreading the love of God.