“Hey God. What’s up? I don’t know why, but it’s weird praying. It’s like I’m talking to myself, but I’m not. Then I stop and realize, 'Wait, this should be more formal. I’m talking to God.' Shoot… I’m doing it again. Let me start over…"
"Dear Heavenly Father… okay, now I feel like I’m writing a letter. What am I kidding? You can read and hear my thoughts anyway."
"Hi God. It’s me again. Sorry I can’t get through this prayer--but I was walking to class and I thought I’d thank you for another day. Even though it’s 8 a.m. on a Thursday and I’m walking to my two-hour lab… it’s another day. Wow! It’s cold out this morning. I should’ve grabbed me a cup of coffee."
I just realized that I haven’t talked to you in a while mainly because I always feel silly trying to start off a prayer. I’ve come to the realization that you love me and will always love me, unconditionally, even if the intro to my prayers sound silly.
"Anyways, I’ve been having some small problems here and there lately that have been adding up and well… I need to talk them out with someone.”
I am a part of a Women’s Devotional Group at Hanover College called “Delight.” A couple weeks ago, we discussed “issues” with praying. A lot of these “issues” tied back to starting off a prayer. The dialogue above is the conversation I have pretty much every morning on my way to class. It sounds silly, and I sound silly half (most) of the time, but that’s all it takes. I feel like most people get so intimidated after hearing their pastors give their sermons every Sunday morning and hearing how formal their prayers sound, but God just asks that we keep in His presences.
April 13,
“When I give you no special guidance, stay where you are. Concentrate on doing your everyday tasks in awareness of My Presence with you. The Joy of My Presence will shine on you, as you do everything for Me. Thus you invite Me into every aspect of your life. Through collaborating with Me in all things, you allow My Life to merge with yours… I designed you to depend on Me moment by moment, recognizing that apart from Me you can do nothing-” (Jesus Calling Seeking Peace in His Presence. Thomas Nelson, 2010. Print.).
God is my start to a new day. God is my shoulder to lean on. God is my Father.
God wants and invites us with opening arms to talk with Him, to keep in His presence and to depend on Him. You don’t need a fancy introduction to a prayer in order for Him to care for you and guide you throughout your life. God loves your presence and wants you to stay near Him, allowing Him to guide you each step of the way.
“Anyway… Hey God. What’s up?”
