Going to God

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."  -1 Peter 5:7

Our Daily Bread's title for today's devotion is "Being Real With God."  Jennifer Schuldt shares that C. S. Lewis wrote in his book The Screwtape Letters that when distracted while praying it was better to accept "the distraction as [our] present problem and [lay] that before [God] and make it the main theme of [our] prayers."  

This is brilliant!  The thought is probably intruding into our minds anyway because it needs attending to.  We need to hand it over to God and ask Him what we should do about it.  Should I leave it with Him or is there something I can do?

Jennifer writes, "God wants us to be real as we talk with Him and open up about our deepest concerns, fears, and struggles....His interest in us is like the attention we would receive from a close friend."  This got me to thinking about the times friends have shared the difficulties in their lives.  There is much written about being a good listener. It usually ends with the admonition to not offer advice unless asked for.  But to me this feels like praying to God and then not waiting for His answer.  I figure if someone tells me their troubles it's because they want help--just like when we pray to God we are asking for help.  He already knows what's going on, but its in the asking on our part that we humble ourselves so that we can receive the "advice" He gives us.  

If on the other hand we are merely complaining to God about our circumstances or just expressing our fears with no intention of leaving our concerns with Him, we have not actually prayed.  Prayer means we have entered into a one-on-one conversation with God which means we expect to hear back from Him.  When we go to our friends before we go to God I can pretty much guarantee what we are really looking for is sympathy.  This is not to say we don't let our friends know what we are going through so that God can use them to help us.  But we must always go to God first because He is the only One who really knows what's best for us.  It is in prayer that we can be Real because God does not judge us based on our circumstances. I can pour out my heart to him in all its ugliness so that He can show me what is wrong.  We can't trust the advice of our friends anyway since they don't know our hearts and they may have their own prejudices that would interfere with giving us sound advice.  

K. T. Sim writes in the Insight conclusion:  "Prayer acknowledges that we are weak and totally dependent on God.  We may not fully understand the circumstances of our life, but we can rest in the knowledge that God is in control.  He gives us His peace."

Father, help me to capture those thoughts that pull me away from trusting You with all of my life.  May I be mindful to be real with You at all times so that I may be open to Your correction and guidance.

Link to scripture:  Isaiah 26:3

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