The Two-Second Prayer

I recently received one of those "FORWARD THIS!!!!" emails, which I usually ignore, but a friend wanted my opinion. The forwarded mail concerned an 8-second prayer that was supposed to have some great impact on us. The prayer was innocent enough, I thought at first.

" Lord, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, and bless me, my family, my home, my finances, and all of my friends, in Jesus' name. Amen."

After reflecting for a few moments on this prayer, it became apparent that this prayer was short-sighted, immature, unbiblical, and totally unrelated to "the faith once delivered to the saints." (Jude 3) It also bears little or no resemblance to the prayers prayed by our Lord or His disciples in the Bible.

(2 Cor 13:7) "Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified."

(Phil 1:9) "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,"

(3 John 1:1-4) "THE ELDER, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

(Eph 1:16-21) "do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come."

It especially does not relate to the manner in which our Lord commanded us to pray. The Disciple's prayer (the Lord's Prayer is John 17), which is to be prayed "in this manner," using the text as an outline, scarcely mentions any of these needs (save one petition for daily necessities).

(Mat 6:5-15) ""And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."



Even better than an 8-second prayer written by man is a two-second prayer written by God.

One of the greatest prayers in the Bible takes only two seconds to pray. It is a prayer with the power to save, a prayer with the power to heal a sin-sick soul, and a piece of theology that will straighten out the most confused mind.

This prayer was delivered in a most unusual way, with the man praying looking away and holding his head down low. The man delivering it beat his chest profusely and in agitation, for he was a great sinner, a traitor to his nation, and an insult to his God. Here is the circumstance and the two-second prayer. (Luke 18:13) ""And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'" The phrase in English does not make the point that the Greek original does. In the original, the definite article is used before the word "sinner." What he said was "...God, be merciful to me, THE sinner. The immediate effect of this prayer was more earthshaking than a mountain being moved, more enriching than all the possessions in the universe, and more longlasting than mountains themselves. Jesus said of this man: (Luke 18:14) ""I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."" This man was saved, justified by faith, made right with God, and set upon the path of the Holy. Two seconds; if you are reading this and have never repented of your sins as this man, have never surrendered your pride as this man, nor have been justified as this man, say THIS prayer and mean it; beat on your chest and lower your eyes, stand afar off as befits one who is separated from God, and have your life changed. Turn to Christ in repentance and faith and say, "God, be merciful to me THE sinner," and live forever.


Brother Charley Buntin
Clinton, KY