While I was in college, I met a girl named Alisha. Alisha was an attractive girl and very gracious but she had something on the inside that radiated out and made her truly beautiful.
She invited me to join her and a few other college girls to read and talk about the Bible. This was new territory for me but I really wanted to learn about God and my new faith, so I joined them. I was the girl who asked all the crazy questions…and they were all so patient with me.
One night after everyone else had gone, Alisha and I were left talking. I had to ask her…what was it about her, what did she have? Her answer was simple. “I have a personal relationship with Jesus.” This sounded so strange so I asked her, “You mean, you talk to Him?”
“Yeah. It’s called prayer.”
DUH! I get it! So many lights went on for me! I had prayed as a child, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep” and “God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food.” It never occurred to me that I could, and should talk to Him as I would a friend. But really knowing God requires talking to Him.
Years later, I spend time talking to Him any and everywhere, but I think my most intimate seasons are those times I regularly write down my prayers in conversation or letter-form to Him.
Years ago, I read a book called Honest to God and in it the author said he started each morning with a journal entry that began, “Yesterday…” and went from there. I thought that was such a good idea. I tend to start mine out with “Lord, …” and I just get everything out and on to Him. You know, casting my cares on Him since He cares for me (1 Peter 5:7).
I’m also really honest and specific with Him. I trust that He’s got a better grasp of what’s going on and what I need, but He does say to ask, seek and knock and that we’ll receive, find and walk through whatever door we need.
This week I am asking Him to do some pretty big things and I’m being very specific about them. I’ll keep you posted on how He answers.
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” 1 John 5:14:
Young Woman,
What about you? When do you talk to God? What do you trust Him with? Since God really does love you, you can tell Him everything. There is no hiding and there is nothing too big or too small. Talking with Him regularly and honestly takes so much anxiety or stress off of your shoulders and onto the shoulders big enough for anything. So why don’t you tell Him about your about your day?
LORD, yesterday…
Originally posted 1/14/19