A DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT by Lois Coady
Have you ever had a conversation with someone and walked away scratching your head, unsure what was communicated and why? There are times when we have difficulty communicating our deepest thoughts and desires in a way that makes sense to others. This happens to me when I have a lot going on in my life and way too many things darting through my brain at one time. Sound familiar? I have sometimes stopped and wondered how God must feel when we bring our “petitions” to Him in those confusing, unclear moments of life.
I remember in college how we had specific guidelines to follow in order to communicate with a professor. Back then, there was no emailing or texting a quick question, instead the prof typically had “office hours” during which you could either make an appointment or drop by to get clarification on a lecture item or discuss an upcoming project. It was time consuming and laborious.
When it came to written work there were very stringent guidelines to follow. The APA (American Psychological Association) writing guidelines were used (and still are) throughout the university to instruct us on how a paper was to be written. The APA guidelines provided guidance on how to footnote, margin settings, line spacing, font type and size, as well as page numbering and header information. It was exhausting trying to make sure that verbal and written communication followed all of the protocols perfectly.
In Philippians 4:6-7 we read:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I'm so thankful that God does not place strict guidelines on our communication with Him. All we need to do is bring our “petitions with thanksgiving” and present our requests to Him. No need to make an appointment or drop by during office hours. No need to select the right font and set our margins just right. Even when our impressions and feelings don’t coalesce into a clear thought, God loves communing with us and understands exactly what we are trying to say. God wants to hear from us, so go ahead and share your heart with Him. He is waiting to hear from you.
