Prayer

It's Ok to be Real With God

By Cyndi Rowland

Originally published on Sept 5, 2012 at Reflections of an Arm Chair Theologian

                                  

Scripture:

Heb_4:16 Let us have confidence, then, and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it. (GNB)

     So many times, I have felt as though I needed to sneak quietly into the throne room so that I would not disturb God, because I know how busy He is and I didn’t want to be a bother.  I didn’t want Him to become irritated or annoyed with me and if I were to approach Him boldly, He may get angry with me and kick me out.  How many of you have felt this way?  Perhaps you felt as if your problem was just not important enough to bother God about, don’t worry, I have felt that way too.  But, you know what?  We are wrong!  God loves us immensely.  He craves our company and wants us to walk into His presence with boldness and climb up on His lap and tell Him exactly what’s on our mind. 

     Moses and Abraham are both great men of God who had one thing in common, they were on were on a first name basis with God.  They both understood that even though God is the creator of everything and could turn them to dust with just a thought; He was there to talk with them, not just to them.  They both did what God wants all of us to do, boldly come to Him.  Interact with Him; in fact have a frank conversation with Him.  You see God is more than just our creator; He is our Father, our parent.  Consider this: what earthy parent doesn’t want to spend time with their child?  We all do, we love our children.  When something is troubling them, we want them to come to us and be honest in word, thought, and action.  We don’t want them to say what they believe we want to hear, we want them to be real with us.  God wants that from His children also.  He craves time with us, He desires to hear all about everything that is bothering us no matter how slight it may seem to us.  Moreover, just like our earthly parents, He wants us to speak from our hearts not from some pre-fashioned script.  He wants us to be real with Him.  So my friends, next time you pray, walk boldly into you Father God’s throne room and tell Him all about it, don’t worry about standing on ceremony, that won’t impress Him at all.  Talk with Him and He will listen.

Futher Reading:

Exemplified by Abraham in his inquiry concerning Sodom

Gen_18:23-32 Abraham approached the LORD and asked, "Are you really going to destroy the innocent with the guilty? 24. If there are fifty innocent people in the city, will you destroy the whole city? Won't you spare it in order to save the fifty? 25  Surely you won't kill the innocent with the guilty. That's impossible! You can't do that. If you did, the innocent would be punished along with the guilty. That is impossible. The judge of all the earth has to act justly." 26  The LORD answered, "If I find fifty innocent people in Sodom, I will spare the whole city for their sake." 27  Abraham spoke again: "Please forgive my boldness in continuing to speak to you, Lord. I am only a man and have no right to say anything.  28  But perhaps there will be only forty-five innocent people instead of fifty. Will you destroy the whole city because there are five too few?" The LORD answered, "I will not destroy the city if I find forty-five innocent people." 29  Abraham spoke again: "Perhaps there will be only forty." He replied, "I will not destroy it if there are forty."30  Abraham said, "Please don't be angry, Lord, but I must speak again. What if there are only thirty?" He said, "I will not do it if I find thirty." 31  Abraham said, "Please forgive my boldness in continuing to speak to you, Lord. Suppose that only twenty are found?" He said, "I will not destroy the city if I find twenty." 32  Abraham said, "Please don't be angry, Lord, and I will speak only once more. What if only ten are found?" He said, "I will not destroy it if there are ten." (GNB)

By Moses, supplicating for assistance in delivering Israel

Exo_33:12-19 Moses said to the LORD, "It is true that you have told me to lead these people to that land, but you did not tell me whom you would send with me. You have said that you know me well and are pleased with me. 13  Now if you are, tell me your plans, so that I may serve you and continue to please you. Remember also that you have chosen this nation to be your own." 14  The LORD said, "I will go with you, and I will give you victory." 15  Moses replied, "If you do not go with us, don't make us leave this place. 16  How will anyone know that you are pleased with your people and with me if you do not go with us? Your presence with us will distinguish us from any other people on earth." 17  The LORD said to Moses, "I will do just as you have asked, because I know you very well and I am pleased with you." 18  Then Moses requested, "Please, let me see the dazzling light of your presence." 19  The LORD answered, "I will make all my splendor pass before you and in your presence I will pronounce my sacred name. I am the LORD, and I show compassion and pity on those I choose. (GNB)

Talkin' to God

By Cyndi Rowland

Originally published on Sept 2012 at Reflections of an Arm Chair Theologian

Scripture:

Romans 8:28-29

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

     God never promised it would be easy to follow Him, but He did promise it would be worth it.  He knows what we are going through.  No, I do not believe He likes it, but He knows it is necessary to refine us into the wonderful child He created us to be.  He does not want us to live as we do, in poverty, barely making ends meet, and hearing our babies cry for food because they are hungry.  Think about it:  He created a perfect and beautiful garden for us to dwell in, He did that for us.  He wants us to have the best of everything.  He is our King and we our His children, Princes and Princesses of the most high King.  That is who we are.  What it comes down too is we do not have because we do not believe that God will do it for us.  I have news for you, He will.  God does not care what you have done in the past, if He decides to bless you He will.  He does not care how many times you have let Him down, you are His child, and He loves you.  Guess what, God lives by the same rules we do, He does not expect any more out of us than He does himself, In fact, He knows we are unable to reach the standard He sets, He just asks us to reach for it.  Ask Him, He will give it.  You have a need?  A desire? Something you have longed for a long time?  Have you spoke to the Father about it?  Have you really spoken to Him or did you give a lick and promise prayer just thrown out there and hoped He caught it?  Have you ever heard of P.U.S.H? (Pray Until Something Happens.)  You need to really speak with the sovereign God that has no limits; He will hear you and answer you.  He loves you just the way you are, warts, bad habits, dark secrets, and all.  Go to Him, walk boldly into the throne room, climb up on His lap, and tell Him all about it. That is all He is waiting for.

~Cyndi