Do you sometimes struggle to have meaningful daily conversations with God? I will admit that I do. I think if we are honest, most of us struggle with daily conversations with God from time to time. Sometimes my prayer time with God is powerful and amazing and some days I can check it off my list. Do you relate? I personally feel that is because prayer is an act of faith. If you think about it, you are talking with someone you often cannot see or feel and it is an act of faith to realize God is a very real person you are conversing with. The truth is that He is more real than the majority of what we experience in a day, but everything in our culture says the opposite.
I think sometimes it is also hard to approach God because we feel we need to go back and repent of everything we have done since we were five or even that morning to feel worthy enough to approach Him. While Holiness is definitely important, we are not sinners trying to make it through each day. We are more than conquerors learning to live each day victorious in God. We are also children of the most High God. God longs to connect with us and be a part of our lives often more than we want it.
I had an experience a few years ago that changed my thought process on talking with God. I was in a spiritual growth class at church. The teacher was speaking on the Father heart of God. He asked us to close our eyes and envision ourselves walking into the throne room of God. What would it look like? How would God greet us? He then prayed over us and asked God to show us what it would be like to walk into His throne room. The teacher was then silent for a while as we closed our eyes to envision what walking into the throne room of God might be like. I dutifully closed my eyes not sure I would really see anything. Then, I saw myself enter the throne room of God far off in a corner. I was low to the ground and kind of edged my way in hoping not to be noticed. There was no confidence in me whatsoever, and I was hoping that I might not get into trouble for coming into the throne room. Suddenly, God saw me and rushed off His throne and headed straight for me. He started shouting,” Hey! Hey! Sharla is here! Sharla is here! I can’t wait to hear what she has to say.” I was dumbfounded to say the least. God wants to hear what I have to say?” I am in the presence of God, and He actually cares about what would come out of my mouth? In fact, He cares so much He is telling others I am here and wants them to hear from me as well. How is this even possible?
While I was still processing what had just happened, the speaker drew our attention back to him. He then shared what His experience was the first time He went through the exercise. To my shock, His experience was extremely similar to mine. If I had any doubt what I had just experienced was really how God thought of me, it was put to rest by this man saying he had had a similar experience. I pretty much burst into tears at that point. It was an experience that changed me. Not only am I invited into the Throne room of God, God is waiting for me with anticipation and wants to hear what I have to say. The Bible says in Psalm 100:4 (NKJV) “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” The Passion translation also says in verse 5a “For Yahweh is always good and ready to receive you. He’s so loving that it will amaze you – so kind that it will astound you!” How can we not approach a God like that?
I think as with all relationships there will be days when we experience God deeply and others that we may not feel Him as strongly. It doesn’t mean He isn’t there. There are days when my husband and I have a conversation where afterwards we feel we know each other better and are more deeply connected. Then there are days we speak about the grocery list. I think the key is not to let everyday be about the grocery list. Meaning, it is fine to approach God with our requests or things we need help with. The Bible says in Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” God wants to hear your requests and to comfort you and do away with your anxiety. However, a conversation is a two way street. I don’t think it is enough to approach God with all the things you would like to happen or be resolved and then walk away. We must make time to also hear what God wants to say to us. There are things in this world that absolutely break God’s heart, and we also need to be willing to hear from Him on how He wants us to pray.
Can you imagine how much more powerful our prayers would be if we first listened to how God wants us to pray for those things. Romans 8 verse 27 says that the Holy Spirit is interceding for us and then in verse 34 says that Jesus is interceding for us. Can you imagine? The Holy Spirit and Jesus are praying for us! I think it would be important to ask the Father what and how Jesus and the Holy Spirit are praying and get into agreement with them. I think our prayers would be so much more powerful if we intentionally prayed in agreement with Jesus and the Holy Spirit!
So how do we know what to pray and what Jesus and the Holy Spirit are praying? First, read scripture. The more you learn about God the more you are going to pray what is in His heart. Second, set apart time to listen. It is often beneficial to have a journal to record your thoughts. When you come back to it over time, you may be surprised to learn that you really do hear from God and He really does speak to you. The journal is also a good reminder of what God has said to you when you find yourself in the midst of a discouraging time.
Remember, friend, God is always for you, never against you. He longs to connect with you. He wants to hear from you and hear what is on your heart. He gave up everything He had to have a relationship with you, and it is important to Him to talk with you. He loves you more than you know and daily conversations with God will not only benefit you but those around you. I challenge you to daily connect with Him!
Check out these other blog posts!
Oh, I try. by Jessica Weaver. https://www.rootedunrooted.com/blog/oh-i-try
Kids Sleep Meditation: 6 Daily Practice Dos and Don’ts by Ashley Olivine https://louvaria.com/kids-sleep-meditation/
A Day in the Life of a Nurse Practitioner by Amy Cobb https://www.tayloredintent.com/blog/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-nurse-practitioner
Lessons from Daily Bread by Dianne Vielhuber. https://simplewordsoffaith.com/2021/09/01/lessons-from-daily-bread/
I almost cried. This was beautiful. Thank you for sharing your experience on here and for the awesome and practical tips to draw nearer. Your blog does not disappoint
Thank you so much Jess! I so appreciate you being faithful to read this and I am glad it speaks to you. 🙂
This was much needed. Our current covid surge in my community and in my practice has taken me away from God (both time-wise and in my thoughts). I have carried so much worry about my patients who are so very sick and our overcrowded hospital and exhausted staff, and I have forgotten to have that daily conversation with God. I’ve prayed for so many, but I have forgotten to talk to God and tell Him what my needs are! Thank you for reminding to go back to my morning routine of time with the only one who can get me through this dark hour.
That is definitely a lot to carry. Thank you for sharing this. I do know that God sees your worry and wants to carry it for you. You are a beacon of light in your workplace, but He wants to constantly fill you up so you have something to give to others. Thank you for all you are doing to care for others. 🙂
Pingback: Daily Checklists Keep It Moving – reginamarcazzoskarka.com