God Wants to Hear What I Have to Say?!?

Prayer. What an amazing invitation from our Heavenly Father to come into close relationship with him! That is what prayer is. It is having a conversation with the Almighty God. It means that we get to have the ear of the Creator of the Universe. The Most High God listens to us and wants to hear what we have to say. There is no greater honor.

 

Do you have something breaking your heart? Do you have something stressing you out? Do you need help with something? Is there something you are ashamed of? Do you have something to be thankful for? Do you have a creative idea? Or do you need a creative idea? These are all times when God is calling us to pray.

 

We are so limited in what we can do. But God is not limited. He is all powerful. The question is, how do we get our limits and God's power working together? The answer = prayer.

 

God has a plan for everyone, in all things. The purpose of prayer is for us to partner with God according to his plan—it’s not necessarily about getting what we want. Even though he is all powerful, God chose to partner with us in what he is doing here on earth. Our part is to talk to God about everything, then God decides what to do with it. Contrary to popular teaching, God does not always get what he wants (2 Peter 3:9). Partners work together and if one is not doing their part, then things won’t work out as well. There is a lot that God does here on earth because of the cries of his people. He hears our hearts cry when we use our words or when we pour out our tears (Isaiah 38:5, Psalm 56:8). He needs to hear what we have to say in order to accomplish his will here on earth. I pray because I want to be part of making a difference.

 

God wants to hear what we have to say. He wants us to come to him and talk to him about everything (Matthew 11:28-30). He wants us to cast our care on him (1 Peter 5:7). He wants to be the one we come to. He wants to be our resource. He wants to be there for us. When we choose God as the one we go to, that is actually faith. It is pleasing to God. We need to come to him with this attitude and heart-posture. We don’t have to come pleading with God in an attempt to talk him into caring about something. He already cares more than we do. So start there and just tell him what is on your heart and in your mind.

 

When we do not unload our burdens to God, they tend to accumulate and that feels a lot like anxiety. Anxiety can actually be a call to pray. There have been so many times when I feel disturbed deep inside and I can feel the accompanying anxiety. Then when I pray it out, I can feel the disturbance leave. I know that I'm done praying when the disturbance and anxiety are gone. Jesus has it. God does not fully "have" it if we have not "given" it to him. The way we get change here on earth is through prayer. Because prayer is our way of handing it to God.

 

There are times when I don't know how to pray about a situation. I really don't know what to say to God. I want the Spirit of God to pray through me. So what I do is ask God, "How do you want me to pray? Would you please show me your heart in this situation? Would you please put your words in my mouth that I can offer them back to you?" I then still myself and quietly listen. Then I open my mouth and pray what comes to mind. I have seen God do amazing things through those prayers!

 

I invite you to join me in prayer.

Father God, I come to you now acknowledging your goodness. You are all powerful and all wise. You know exactly what is best in every situation. Thank you that you care about me and my situation. Thank you that you hear me and care what I have to say. God, I care what you think. I want to hear what you have to say. You are always good and kind. Thank you that you take the heavy end. I agree to let you have what is weighing heavy on me. You are the one I choose to come to. I fully surrender to you. Please show me how to pray. Please give me your heart and your mind about things. I welcome you to put your words in my mouth that I may pray them back to you. Thank you that you receive me and what I have to say with open arms.

(Tell God all about it...)

God, I receive your rest (Matthew 11:28) and thank you for it. Amen.

 

Additional scriptures:

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him (1 John 5:14-15 NIV).

 

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt...(James 1:6a NIV).

 

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. (Psalm 126:5 NIV)