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Why You Should (and Can) Pray Honestly

What’s on your mind today? Is there something troubling you or keeping you up at night?

Take a second and make a list of the things you’re holding. The things that worry you or fill your brain.

Now take a look at that list. What’s on it? Big things? Small things?

Do you know there is no request that’s too big, too small, or unimportant to God?

God is the creator and sustainer of the entire universe! Which is pretty big. He made the stars, the planets, the oceans, and the mountains.

God is big, but He’s also the God of the smallest details.

God knows the number of hairs on your head. He created each leaf on a tree to be an energy-making factory. He gave each flower a unique color and shape. He taught each songbird how to sing.

Nothing you ask of God is too big or too small.

So go ahead, make a request. Share what’s on your heart. Tell it like it is. Don’t feel like you have to dress it up with fancy religious sounding words.

It’s easy for us to think that when we talk to God, we need to know exactly what to say and how to say it. Like we only have one shot to make a good impression and hopefully get what we ask for.

We’re also tempted to feel like we can’t show our big emotions to God and talk honestly with Him. “Isn’t it wrong to be mad at God? Am I ungrateful if I’m sad? If I have questions, does that make me unfaithful?”

Be you. You are created by God. You matter to God.

There’s no need to put on a good face or sugar coat your prayers to God, because He already knows exactly what you’re thinking! He knew our words before we’d say them. God is the one that made us as we are, so He knows what you’ll say when you’re upset or angry.

We can be honest with God because He knows us and loves us.

No matter what those honest words sound like. Our whole selves are welcomed in the presence of God.

As we’re being honest with God, it’s important for us to remember that God, not us, is the Creator and Author of everything, including our lives. We have the freedom and grace to talk with God honestly, but it’s wise to humble our hearts.

Sometimes what we ask for in honesty is not God’s plan for our lives. Sometimes circumstances don’t turn out as we hoped or planned.

But even if we don’t understand, God is always good.

When I share my requests with God, I like to ask for the outcome I’d love to see. That’s me praying specifically. However, more recently I’ve been adding “or something even better still.”

By adding that piece, it enables me to build my trust that God is a good Father, and His ways are much higher than my own. There have been so many times in my life I’ve been grateful He didn’t answer the way I had hoped. His answer was so much better.

God’s got the big picture. I have only a tiny view.

If the outcome is different than I hoped for, I then ask Him to help me cope with the disappointment and trust His plan more. Faith is choosing to believe before we see. Yes, it’s challenging some days, but the spiritual realm is as real as the physical one. Trust that God is always at work on your behalf even when it doesn’t feel like it. One day it will all make sense.

Until then, pray honestly and don’t stop believing. There’s always grace for today.

If you need help learning more about your abundant purpose and trusting God’s plan for your life, schedule a free call HERE to see if 1:1 coaching is the right answer for you.

February 25, 2022

BY DR. RICHELLE HOEKSTRA-ANDERSON

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By Dr. Richelle Hoekstra-Anderson & Tom Ziglar