There is a saying, When all else fails, go to God in prayer. I think a lot of people live by that motto, whether consciously or unconsciously, going through life working things out on their own until they get to what seems like an impassible bump in the road. Or maybe it’s more like a brick wall. You get a big bill you don’t have the money to pay. You get a diagnosis that sounds hopeless. Your marriage is failing. Your child moves out, and you just can’t handle the empty nest. You’re being laid off, or your business is broke. Or six months on lockdown has you at the end of your rope. Then you pray to God something like Psalm 141:1, “O, Lord, I cry out to you, ‘Come quickly.’ Open your ears to me when I cry out to you.”
Prayer is not about bringing information to God; it’s about getting divine direction. Not that God doesn’t want you to share with Him. On the contrary, He does. If you have put your faith in Him, He is your loving Father.
Prayer is not about bringing information to God, it’s about getting divine direction
When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He told them that when they prayed, they should pray as He did. He went on to give them a guide prayer. It wasn’t just words to be repeated, but an illustrated path for speaking with the Father. And who could be better equipped than Jesus to teach us this, since He clearly lived communing with the Father and revealing Him to the world.
As a loving Father, God always has His arms open wide to embrace you and a ready ear. He loves for you to tell Him about your day or week or year. The Father smiles over you when you are happy, blessed and grateful and has compassion on you when you are sad. Like a father who draws his little girl into his lap, the Father wants you to share your heart with Him.
James 4:8 says, Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. This is a promise, but not just a promise. It’s a beautiful declaration that reveals God’s very nature. When you come to Him, He will not reject you or ignore you but rather welcomes you.
If you think you have to come to Him and tell Him your needs in order for Him to take care of you and them, I assure you, you are wrong. He knows all about it way before you tell it to Him. Jesus said in Matthew 5 that you need not worry, because your Father in heaven already knows of all your need for food, clothing, shelter and life in general. And Psalm 139 says that even before the words are on your tongue, He knows them.
So bringing our needs to God is definitely not for Him. He’s not too busy to watch over you. There are no grounds for saying he doesn’t care that you are really struggling to make ends meet. He’s not unaware of your needs and the desires of your heart. He sees into the depth of your heart where you feel so inadequate. He’s not oblivious when you feel hurt or lonely or your heart is breaking over the absence of a loved one. Believe me, He knows, and He cares!
Why do we come to God in prayer? Why tell Him about our needs? Years ago, my uncle worked as a troubleshooter for a chain of convenience stores. His job was to go into a place, find the deficiencies, get to the causes, and bring solutions to the table. Maybe you have seen a program about a famous cook as a troubleshooter to rescue family businesses. Many times he says things people do not WANT to hear but NEED to hear, and if they listen and adhere to his advice, their situation radically turns around. God has a lot more grace in speaking to us, but hey, we need to listen.
Our heavenly Father is the ultimate Troubleshooter, and He has all of the answers.
Our heavenly Father is the ultimate Troubleshooter, and He has all of the answers. When I come to him with my prayers, I should come expecting answers. Sure, there are times when what we really need is a heart to heart and to cry on His shoulder. And that’s okay, He’s there for us. But. But. (I remember learning that when Jesus would repeat something, like “verily, verily” we should pay attention to what He is emphasizing.) But, then it’s time to sit up, pick up pen and paper, and listen to God’s answer.
Are you hurting today? Bring your pain, pour out your heart, and then receive God’s healing touch. Read Psalm 103 and Isaiah 61:1-3. Are you struggling to make ends meet? Read Matthew 6:25-34. Are you feeling lonely? Hear his heart for you. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. (Psalm 68:5-6)
The first step in prayer is knowing where to turn.
Turn to God. Draw near to your heavenly Father confidently, knowing He hears you and pray, O Lord, I cry out to you, “Come quickly.” Open your ears to me when I cry out to you.
Second, remember you are praying to the Creator of the universe, the Allpowerful and Holy One, and focus on Him and His greatness not on your problems. When you do this, not only is it pleasant to His ears, like a Father whose child looks upon Him with unabashed admiration. But furthermore, you are changed, as you shift your gaze from yourself to praise Him. Things take on a new perspective, as your anxiety lessens and your faith grows. David continued, Let my prayer be accepted as sweet-smelling incense in your presence. Let the lifting up of my hands in prayer be accepted as an evening sacrifice.
O Lord, set a guard at my mouth. Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Finally, determine to not say things you shouldn’t. Don’t speak negatives. Don’t murmer and complain. Don’t criticize. Don’t prophecy a gloomy future. Instead choose praise, promises and being in the presence of the Allmighty. O Lord, set a guard at my mouth. Keep watch over the door of my lips. (Psalm 141:1-3) (More on this subject in upcoming article, What you say is what you get.)
Make prayer your first resort today, not the last “when all else fails”. Put yourself in God’s capable hands and follow His direction, and be amazed at what He does. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16)
