What to Say to God :: Sara Horn

Image by mufan96 via FlickrI think the thing that helps the most when we are trying to figure out what to say to God is that He already knows what we’re going to say. So let’s not try to be so formal, trying to make our prayers sound like those of a great preacher in the 19th century.

Let’s instead just be honest.

Some of my most intimate prayer times are times when I just don’t know what to say, when I cry out to God and say, “Lord, I don’t have a clue but I know I need you.”

This has been one of those days.

There has been a lot on my plate in terms of leadership as well as in my marriage and family and today is one of those days where I haven’t done a very good job of taking it completely to God. I’m just being honest.

But even though I don’t know what to say, I know God is listening. I know He hasn’t left me. I know He will be with me tomorrow. That this day will pass.

So since I’m having trouble finding words, let me share with you what my pastor told us this past Sunday about prayer.

When we pray, we need to do the following:

Confess. Confess where we’ve messed up, acknowledge where we’ve gone wrong. (You won’t surprise Him – He already knows.)

Offer praise and thanksgiving for who God is – not just what He does for us.

Pray for our most personal needs and problems – He will grant us what we ask, but we have to ask, and even then, He will grant us what we need.

Pray for our families – our spouses, our children, our extended family, our church family, our friends.

Pray for the burdens that hurt our hearts the most. When it feels like no one else is there to listen, God is, and He will.

So as you finish reading this, stop and take some time to pray. He’s listening.