Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Have A Talk With God

When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.  Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!  Matthew 6:7-8

People who know me say that sometimes I talk with myself.  Often it is in response to something that I did not do as well as I should (Gee Kent.  That was brilliant), and other times it is for self-motivation (Come on, Kent!).  Someone told me after a workout session at the gym that they enjoyed hearing me talk out loud because it actually motivated them.  People at work would say that they enjoy hearing me speak noting that I have ‘the gift of gab’ you could say.  I’m always humbled to hear that because I was pretty introverted growing up (maybe closet extrovert closer to the truth J).  Lately, I have been challenged to be more prayerful both openly and behind closed doors.  This is not to say that I do not have conversations with God.  In fact, that’s where I’m good.  Yet, what I am referring to is the heart wrenching, totally vulnerable, completely transparent talk with the awesome, Alpha and Omega, all knowing one true living God.

Prayer life is more than just the Lord’s Prayer.  It’s a habit of confessing struggles, thankfulness, failures, and hopes.  It is a total unveiling of those things that you love and those things you struggle with.  It should mirror your life as a Christian; evolving, ever growing, painful, and filled with joy.  A little advise to those of you who feel like you do not know what to say to God.  Don’t get caught up in the order and what are the right things to tell him.  Today’s verse is not meant to discourage.  It’s to encourage that you might not have it all right today, but with each day, you will get better.  My father use to be a man that could pray on anything, and I would marvel the words he would use never ever thinking I could hope to sound like him.  Then one day, I sounded just like he did as the Holy Spirit began to take my words and turn them into His.  Trust God that as today’s verses state, He knows what you need even before you ask, and your goal is to just reach out to Him with an open mind, heart, and spirit.


Prayer changes things.  These are not just idle words to convince one of what God can do.  They are a reminder that you cannot expect change without putting in the work.  Do not focus on where you are in your prayer life.  Focus on the relationship you have with God and your willingness to open up to Him.  Then and only then will you see God truly work within your prayer life and everything else.  How is your prayer life?  If yours is good, how can you make it more heart felt and intentional.  My prayer is that no matter where our prayer life is, we learn to better have a talk with God.  Amen.

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