Anybody out there have a 2-year-old? I do! And she is quite the character. She’s so full of joy and happiness, cute-as-can-be… one minute… then the next she is the boss-demanding that her older sisters give her their toys. So, as you can imagine, this doesn’t go over very well. Her sisters, who are 4 and 5, will just tell her no and go about their business. But my 2-year-old is not happy at all.
So, she will come running to me crying and babbling something. Occasionally, I can make out the one or two words she is saying. Based on her response (and what is going on in the bedroom), I can make a pretty accurate assessment of what the problem may be.
But man, I wish I could understand what she was saying.
Often, I have to remind her to “Use your words,” as she cries her response at me. And even though I may know the answer is going to be no, I make her ask anyways.
Sadly, I know this is how I sometimes go to God in prayer… much like my child comes to me babbling.
Sometimes when I am praying, I beat around the bush. I will spin the conversation so that I present other request first, but my desires are in another place. I take for granted the fact that He knows my heart and my heart’s desires.
Sometimes I am vague in my request. Sometimes I just say- God show me your will, but I am completely blind to where He is working, not realizing His will is not only the future but the present as well.
Sometimes I just try to do my own thing. Maybe I think-I’ve got this. I don’t need help. Maybe I think, God’s got bigger things to attend to than my little bitty problem. Or maybe… sometimes… maybe I don’t want His answer, because I want to do things my way.
Sometimes my prayers are so “Me-focused” that I am off the mark.
So many times, I feel like I go to God as a 2-year-old. Praise God is He is almighty, all-knowing, and ever-present! Thank God that He puts people, places and things in my path to help me grow in my prayer life!
Here’s what I have learned as I have grown in my prayer life. God is our Father. He wants to hear our request. He wants us to talk to him and tell him how we feel. Much like I want my own children to tell me what they need or want, God wants us to tell him as well. Even if it is babble. Everyone has to start somewhere. We will grow in our prayer life, just like my daughter will soon be speaking clearly.
Our relationship with God is the same way. It will grow, but not on its own. You have to start somewhere. He cares for you. He cares about you. And He wants a relationship with you.
So, talk to Him! Praise Him! Present your request to Him. But remember to wait for His answer. Often times the answer to my prayers is not necessarily what I want, but I am given an extreme amount of peace over the situation. We have to remember prayer is not a “get out of jail free” card or a “magic genie.” We cannot manipulate God. He has a plan, and we are blessed to be part of it. When our prayers align with His will, we can honestly see answered prayers. It’s amazing how God changes what we see and what we seek!
It’s so amazing to me that the same God who has a relationship with me is working in a very similar manner in the people around me. Sometimes I seriously sit in church and marvel over this fact! God is so good!
Pray! Ask God for what you need! Start the conversation. He’s there. He’s waiting.
Remember that we have the Advocator- the Holy Spirit! We also have Jesus, the Son, who is also interceding for us! Your babble is a perfect starting point!
“Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”
Romans 8:34