Conversations                                        Psalm 19:14

Have you thought how important communication, how important conversation is to a Christian? We don’t serve a God who is giving us absolute directions, or a God giving us no ability to engage with him. Psalm 91:15, “When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him.” God tells us thousands of years ago; he wants us to talk to him. So now the question is, do we?

Do we talk to him when we are in trouble? And if we do, how do we talk to him? Is it like this, “God, what is going on, God, don’t you care; God, why are you doing this?”

There are times every one of us has probably talked to God like this, and as I’ve said, God is big enough to take this from us, but is this really talking to God, or is it talking at God? And when we talk at God, are we really giving him the opportunity to answer? Are we even really looking for an answer?

What if I say to you, “This is wrong, what did you do?” I’m not engaging, I’m venting my anger. I’m not asking for a response, nor am I expecting one. But what if I say it this way, “I see what you did and I’m not sure why. Can you explain it to me?” I’m expressing that I have a problem with the situation, I’m approaching it with an open mind, and I’m expecting an answer.

Looking at our conversations with God, they should be the same way. “God, I know you are here with me, you have control, I have a problem and I need your help.” This is what Jesus means when he said “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done…” This acknowledges God for who he is and acknowledging God’s control.

So we’ve approached God, told him we have faith in him and his work, now we can tell him our troubles, and what we need or want. God, I did this wrong, help me make it right; God, I’m being pulled under, help me find my way; God, I have an issue with drugs or alcohol, or gambling, help me overcome this.” This is what Jesus means when he tells us to say, “…give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors…” God, help me get through this day even as I make mistakes, and help me accept others mistakes.

Our reading says, “May the words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart…” Communication with God consists of two parts. The first part is our voicing our needs, even if we don’t know them, ask the Holy Spirit to convey to God what we don’t know how to express. Never forget what Paul writes in Romans 8:26, “We do not know what to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” The second part, the meditation of our hearts is our openness and willingness to receive an answer.

 “I don’t get it, can you explain this.” Sounds like I’m inviting an answer, but if all I’m really doing is waiting until they finish so I can jump at them and tell them they’re wrong, It’s not a conversation, it’s a set-up.

Communication and conversation with God is the same. We open the conversation by approaching him, but we need to be open to his response. We cannot come to him with an expectation he will do exactly as we want. When we come to him we must be open to how the Holy Spirit works in and around us. Sometimes the answer comes from an off-hand comment from a friend, or even from a stranger. Sometimes God moves people into or out of our lives as the answer to our prayers. And we must remember that sometimes God lets things progress because he is using the situation to move you to something else. And many times, hindsight is the only way to see how God answered you. Look to the life of Joseph. God let him be sold, let him go to prison for something he didn’t do, all so he could be in the right place at the right time to save the nation. 1 Peter 6, “Humble yourselves…under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you in due time.”

As we face life’s hardships, one thing we should remember is that God is always talking to us through his Word. Today it can be easy, use Google to look up verses that apply to your situation. Read them, meditate on them, and be open to what God tells you through them.

As we’re talking about conversations, I have a few thoughts on it. Whether talking to another, or to God, difficult conversations can be hard to start, and hard to hear. But they should be treated with respect. Whether talking to another or with God, be direct. And remember, nothing is in absolutes. It’s never “You never take my side, God, you never help me.” If I tell Jen, “You never listen,” I bet she won’t listen to what I say next. If we tell God he never helps us, chances are he won’t. God is good at responding to your actions, remember he tells us he will only come into our lives when he is invited to.

And whether I’m talking to others or to God, expect a positive outcome. Look for positives no matter how small. If you expect nothing to resolve, it won’t. Jesus tells us in Mark 11:24, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it…” It can be difficult but look for the small, subtle ways God changes things in your life.

And as we’re talking about our conversations with God, our prayers, don’t get too hung up on the propriety of praying. There is no one way to pray. If you want to be on your knees, fine. If you want to be sitting in your room, fine. If you want your prayer to be formal or casual, fine. As I’ve said before, some of my best conversations with God have been in the car on my way to work.

So whether we’re engaging friends, family, strangers, or God, open conversation focused with respect, acceptance, and an expectation of a positive outcome is best.

And when we’re feeling completely overwhelmed and don’t know where or how to participate with God, remember Romans 8:26, “Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For when we do not know what to pray for, the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” What a blessing and a gift this is; when we don’t know how to talk with God, the Holy Spirit prays for us in ways so divine, they cannot be explained by words.

May your lives be blessed,

And may your prayers and conversations with God always be fruitful.                                                                     

Amen