I cry out to the LORD with my voice; With my voice to the LORD I make my supplication. PSALM 142:1
When we verbalize our feelings and concerns to God, it is like entering into a conversation with an intimate friend. It is, in fact, a healthy way for us to open up and reveal what is inside, to bring up from the depths of our heart those things we may have stuffed down inside. Fortunately, God is not shocked or surprised by anything, so there is nothing we cannot tell Him. It is an insult to the One who tells us to cast all our cares upon Him not to do so (1 Peter 5:7). Why would He tell us to verbalize our problems to Him if He did not mean for us to? Even psychologists tell us that verbalizing our problems, whether in writing or out loud, is a good way to bring clarity and definition to what are often very confusing feelings. Suddenly, as we put our feelings into words, we actually begin to see things more clearly ourselves—all because God is willing to listen. - Dr. David Jeremiah Morning and Evening
It's been close to 3 years now concerning this blog and my being told to write what I am writing. Not much longer than that time frame is about when I began practicing praying out loud in the car on my way to work, and that branched out into other times in the car.
Dr. Jeremiah is spot on with what he says about pouring out our hearts to God.
I think it's spilled over into my prayer life of my asking others for prayer at times. Some see it as my asking too often or maybe see it as my having difficulty with life.
My question back to those people is this: Read Psalms and then ask yourself if you would say that about King David?
King David was referred to as a man after God's own heart.
We read of the intensity of his prayer life in the book of Psalms. We read of everything impacting him mentally and emotionally.
In the New Testament we are told to bear one another's burdens. If you are keeping your burdens to yourself then, honestly, you are disobeying God's Word. Scripture says that he who knows the good he ought to do and does not do it, sins.
Get over your supposed embarrassment. Because the power of the Church is in praying people. Satan uses everything, every single emotion he can to prevent people from connecting and from praying together. If you are keeping your prayers from being shared then quite possibly you are playing into his plan, not God's.
In these last several years my prayer life has grown. I can be as emotional as I need to be with God because under no circumstances would He ever turn away from hearing my heartfelt cry. He wants to hear from us.
Some feel the need to write out prayers. There's nothing wrong with that. We see that in this devotional too.
Just because people are being extremely open in what they ask in prayer, it doesn't mean there's something seriously wrong with them. We are told to bring what's on our hearts to Jesus through the Spirit. Again, realistically speaking, if you aren't then you are indeed sinning. You are saying that your problems are bigger than God's ability to handle. In fact you are agreeing with Satan in that respect!
I was encouraged to start a journal many years ago. There's no format to it, it's just my thoughts and feelings typed out in my case. I use an app called Journey, which works on my phone, tablet and PC. This compliments my prayer life at times.
We have a God who listens. We have a God who hears. It's us that clams up when we should be embracing Him!
Jesus said to come to God as a child. Child can and will be brutally honest at times. It's adults that often mess up the relationship with Jesus in over thinking life.
We are the ones duped into being silent or keeping to ourselves when God's available 24/7.
We read of drawing near to God and He will draw near to us. Are you afraid of that happening? Is that why you don't?
I read a story years ago of a father entertaining a friend in his study.
The Father heard a knock at the door. It was his daughter. She came in at his invitation. She went around his desk and he picked her up to put her on his lap. She pointed to her feet and smiled. He hugged her and told her ok and she happily jumped down and left.
The friend was perplexed. The Father explained that she simply was showing him that she would like a new pair of shoes. As her Father I told her that she's been heard and that I would take care of her.
It's the same as our coming to God with what matters to us in this life. It matters not what it is, God's ready to hear and to act in His timing. We are given answers of yes, no, not right now and wait there's something better coming. We are never ignored in our prayers. We are never shut out unless we do the shutting out. If we are harboring sin in our hearts we put up a barrier between us and God.
When our lives are about what God wanting to do and is doing in our lives those prayers are answered the quickest.
We are a called people in Christ Jesus. We are part of the body of Christ. The body is supposed to be in constant communication with the head of the body.
We have a purpose in God's plan for mankind and when we align ourselves with His wants for us prayer becomes like breathing.
Open up with your prayer life. Quit holding onto what is bothering you or is important to you. Scripture says as well to pray without ceasing. Remember to be thankful in everything.
We have His promise to never leave us or forsake us. Trust me, in the last several months it was the subject of many prayers on my way to work. God stayed true to His Word and got me through those rough waters.
Who cares about being embarrassed before God when He already knows what you are going through and knows what you are trying so hard not to say.
He still wants to hear from you.
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