God Hears Our Hearts
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”
-- Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
-- Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
Do you ever compare the wording in different Bible translations? I’ve spent a great deal of time studying the NIV translation (Beth Moore uses it in her Bible studies). This year I decided to use the NLT translation for my personal study. The scripture above is a familiar verse that so many of us have memorized. The different words, well, those were pretty on point.
I’ve been thinking a great deal lately about prayer. I’m a firm believer in praying over everything and about everything. I love talking to God. I imagine He’d sometimes rather I shut up already. But I love the beautiful sunsets. I tell Him about my day. I’m always asking questions. And, yes, some days I do whine and complain.
Still, I wonder if sometimes my prayers are a little too general. Maybe they’re echoing the prayers from yesterday and foreshadowing those of tomorrow. It doesn’t mean my prayers aren’t sincere. It’s just that I don’t get too specific, especially when it comes to me.
It’s easier to ask God for something for someone else. I can ask that a friend’s cancer be in remission. I can ask for comfort for a family whose patriarch is nearing the end of his earthly journey. I can ask that someone else pass a test, get healing from a cold, or find a new job.
But when it comes to me, well things get real general. I’m happy with whatever God wants to do for me. That’s what I tell myself anyway. I feel guilty if I want anything else. What right have I got to seek more? God has done and does so much for me. Isn’t asking for more sort of like saying He hasn’t done enough? I don’t want to be like those Israelites in the desert. I want to be happy and content where I am. But how can I deny what’s deep inside?
God knows my heart. And yours. There are no secrets. So He knows what I want, probably before I do. He knows all those secret dreams that I’m afraid to admit, even to myself. God knows. So it makes it okay to talk to Him about it, to ask the question, even if the answer turns out to be no.
I am forever amazed that God loves me like He does. I am grateful beyond words for everything He has done for me and continues to do for me. I am also certain deep inside that whatever He decides for me is best. And I’ll do what He calls me to do, as best I can, whether I see the reason or not. He knows that. Because God knows my heart. He knows my secrets. He hears my prayers, both spoken and not. And He answers according to His good will and His unfailing love for me.
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