My words . . . his words!
One of the features of encounterprayer is the encouragement to articulate our own needs to Jesus rather than relying on others to do this for us. There are several reasons why this is important.
The first is that each of us knows what we want to say to Jesus far better than anyone else. Some years ago, I remember praying with a lady about her grandchild who had been very sick since birth. I encouraged her to pray for this child in her own words and she poured out her feelings, frustration and disappointment with far more honesty and emotion than I could ever have done. As I listened to her, I recognised that here was someone fully connecting with God and expressing her heart’s desire to him.
I often say that intimacy with God is not first and foremost about us hearing God’s loving whispers to us but is about how much of ourselves we are prepared to bring to him. By being open and honest with Jesus in prayer, we grow in intimacy with him.
The first is that each of us knows what we want to say to Jesus far better than anyone else. Some years ago, I remember praying with a lady about her grandchild who had been very sick since birth. I encouraged her to pray for this child in her own words and she poured out her feelings, frustration and disappointment with far more honesty and emotion than I could ever have done. As I listened to her, I recognised that here was someone fully connecting with God and expressing her heart’s desire to him.
I often say that intimacy with God is not first and foremost about us hearing God’s loving whispers to us but is about how much of ourselves we are prepared to bring to him. By being open and honest with Jesus in prayer, we grow in intimacy with him.
Those of us who have the privilege of praying for others need to be particularly responsible as we have the opportunity to pray for whatever we feel is best for them, regardless of whether they agree! We may think we know which prayers will bless them, but to simply forge ahead with no reference to them doesn’t honour them or their relationship with God. I don’t want to risk praying on someone’s behalf while they silently disagree, hoping God isn’t listening!
Another reason for clearly expressing our own needs to Jesus is that it creates an opportunity for him to respond, by communicating his thoughts and agenda to us. Of course, there may be times when we feel we can’t hear him clearly or we may not recognise that what is in our thoughts is really God’s voice, but we have no way of knowing what else he is doing within us or what will occur to us later.
Creating a space in which we can meet and interact with the living God is such a privilege, so let’s enjoy it and not abuse it.
With every blessing
John
Another reason for clearly expressing our own needs to Jesus is that it creates an opportunity for him to respond, by communicating his thoughts and agenda to us. Of course, there may be times when we feel we can’t hear him clearly or we may not recognise that what is in our thoughts is really God’s voice, but we have no way of knowing what else he is doing within us or what will occur to us later.
Creating a space in which we can meet and interact with the living God is such a privilege, so let’s enjoy it and not abuse it.
With every blessing
John
