I have to make a confession. I’ve already confessed this to the Lord. Now, I openly confess it to you. Sometimes, praying seems like another thing on my “To Do” list. (I can barely type these words. I feel so ashamed.) What’s wrong with me? I’m supposed to love prayer.
Should anyone dare to confess such a horrible sin? Guess what? God already knows whatever it is that we’re ashamed to admit to Him. Confessing it is humbling.
I decided to write this confession in my prayer journal. Honestly, it took a few minutes for me to actually write the words down! I had to remind myself, He already knows. He already knows!
I followed this confession with a heart-felt request.
Lord, Forgive me. I want to look forward to prayer time. I want a more intimate relationship with you through prayer. Help me. Teach me.
Romans says,
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Roman 15:4 ESV)
So once again, I looked in God’s Word for guidance. As I studied the book of Psalms, I saw how open and real David was with God. David recorded his prayers. He wrote down his innermost thoughts, unafraid.
I decided to do this, too. I want to be a person after God’s own heart, like David. I love the story of David and the Psalms he wrote. There is so much for us to learn there.
“God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’” Acts 13:22 NIV
As I read through the Psalms, I noticed that David was completely open with God. He didn’t hide his emotions, feelings, or frustrations. (Why do I? God already knows what I think, what I feel, and what’s in my heart!)
David writes this at the beginning of Psalm 13,
“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?” Psalm 13: 1-2 ESV
David also wrote down what he believed at the end of Psalm 13:
“But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.” Psalm 13:5-6 ESV
The more secure we are in His love for us, the easier it will be to share our most private thoughts with Him. Let us pray, unafraid to be completely real with our Father in Heaven who knows us better than we know ourselves.
What A Friend We Have in Jesus
“Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness. Take it to the Lord in prayer.” ¹
We can strengthen our intimacy with God by taking everything to Him in prayer. What do you need to talk to God about?
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Listen to this:
If you have never asked Jesus to be your Savior, you can do it now. He loves you more than you can comprehend, and it will change your life forever.
“IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH, ‘JESUS IS LORD,’ AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. FOR IT IS WITH YOUR HEART THAT YOU BELIEVE AND ARE JUSTIFIED, AND IT IS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT YOU CONFESS AND ARE SAVED. AS THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, ANYONE WHO TRUSTS IN HIM WILL NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME.” ROMANS 10:9-11
1)From the hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”, by Joseph M. Scriven and Charles C. Converse.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
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