Pay attention to the way you pray.
Not the length.
Not the eloquence.
The small words you use without thinking.
One of the most common is just.
“God, I just ask…”
“Lord, we just pray…”
“I just want to thank You…”
At first glance, the word seems harmless—humble, even. But over time, “just” begins to do something subtle in our prayers. It shrinks them.
When we say just, we often mean only, merely, not too much. It softens our requests, cushions our desires, and quietly apologizes for taking up space before God. We approach Him carefully, as if boldness might be inappropriate and clarity might be presumptuous.
But Scripture invites us into a different posture.
Hebrews 4:16 tells us to approach the throne of grace with confidence. Jesus teaches us to ask, to seek, to knock—not tentatively, but expectantly. The book of James reminds us that we do not have because we do not ask. None of these invitations are timid. None of them are diluted.
The issue is not reverence or humility. True humility isn’t shrinking—it’s clarity without entitlement. Humility says, “I know who You are, and I know who I am because of You.” Timidity, on the other hand, hesitates. It disguises itself as politeness while quietly doubting whether we are allowed to want what we’re asking for.
When “just” becomes habitual in our prayers, it can subtly shape our theology. We begin to believe God must be handled carefully instead of trusted fully. We learn to minimize our longing rather than bring it honestly before Him. Over time, our prayers sound less like children speaking to a Father and more like guests hoping not to inconvenience a host.
But God never asked us to shrink ourselves in His presence.
Jesus didn’t teach His disciples to pray small. He taught them to pray daily, directly, and dependently. Give us. Forgive us. Lead us. Deliver us.
Clear. Bold. Trusting.
So this week, try a small practice.
Notice how often the word just shows up in your prayers. When it does, pause. Remove it. Say the prayer again—this time without apology, without hesitating, without shrinking the desire God already knows is there.
You are not interrupting God.
You are not asking too much.
You are not required to dilute your words to be heard.
You are invited to pray with confidence—not because you are powerful, but because He is.
Britt Goff #wheatfulwednesday