Heavenly Bluetooth
Have you ever seen someone walking through a store, talking with a wireless headset? At first, you think the shopper next to you has gone looney-tunes, talking to themselves in public, but then they turn to reveal a discreet gadget tucked around their ear and you immediately lose the heebeegeebees. Phew! I do this on the reg, only there’s no gadget and I’m talking to God.
In my car, at the store, cooking dinner, in the shower…I usually feel more upfront with God when I talk to Him as life happens rather than reciting a mental checklist. This way of talking to God works for me because I used to think of prayer as some kind of supernatural points system, like karma. Ironically, karma is derived from Hinduism and Buddhism, not Christianity.
An Honest Conversation
This morning, I was working through emails when I noticed how absent I felt. Even though coffee>news>emails is my typical morning routine, busyness had been distracting me from my usual priorities. I started to notice complacency and anxiety creeping in. When this happens, I’ve learned to push all my stuff aside and have an honest chat with God.
Let’s be real, instead of trying to be politically correct, why don’t we just talk to God from the heart in our own lingo? I tell God everything! I’ll tell Him “Thank you!” and “I’m sorry!!” I ask for help and tell Him what I want. I even tell God when I am frustrated with Him and no, I don’t expect any bad karma to come of it. Even Jesus told God that He wasn’t a fan of His plan – Luke 22:42.
Selfish Prayer
Today, I told God about my dreams for a bigger house, travel opportunities, and more income. I also asked Him to help me feel less awful about wanting more than I need. Essentially, I asked God to let me have my cake and eat it too. Sounds kinda greedy? Maybe a little selfish? I’m not done…
I told God I was really confused. I used to pray for the opportunity to live near the ocean again, but now I love the work I’m doing and being near loved ones. I told God about an argument I had this week, how I felt like I was right, and that the other person needed “enlightening.” Don’t I sound like the most humble person ever?
His Yoke is Easy, His Burden is Light
I told God I didn’t feel good enough at a lot of things; that I felt insecure and wanted to do more but didn’t know how. I told God about the pains and fears I have for my family and friends and how I expect Him to do something about it. I told God I was mad that some things I’ve been praying about haven’t changed.
How do I feel now? MUCH BETTER! Regardless of how silly or selfish I sounded, I laid my cares at the feet of Jesus. I prayed honestly because He knows what I’m feeling whether or not I admit it out loud. I heard how ridiculous some of my “problems” sounded when I said them out loud, which made it much easier to let them go. Funny how God can do all this without audibly talking back.
Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 7:7
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
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