What was your last conversation with God like?
Was it a lament as you poured out your soul through tears? Maybe it was joyful thanksgiving to acknowledge a gracious blessing from the Lord! Or perhaps it was a quiet confession in repentance after a wrong you have committed…
Whatever your prayer, I wonder how you found the right words to pray.
I don’t suppose there is a particularly “correct” answer to that question. However, might I offer a suggestion in those moments when you are struggling to find the right words to say when approaching our heavenly father in prayer?
In moments when life gets a bit too complicated, and I am at a loss as to how I should bring up my worries to God, the Holy Spirit always guides me to the book of Psalms. One of my favourite go-to’s is Psalm 139. It helps me get over myself and humbles my posture as I approach the Lord.
I find verses 16-17 particularly encouraging:
“…In your book were written, every one of them,
The days that were formed for me,
When as yet there was none of them.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!”
in all things God works for the good of those who love him
Isn’t it the most wonderful thing in the world that even though we don’t know what our future holds, God already has the rest of our story written in his book? He’s got this. And he is good, so we can totally trust that we cannot possibly “improve” on the story he has decided for our lives.
Not only that, we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him – to refine them for their good and his glory.
Verses 23-24 remind us of that:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me
And lead me in the way everlasting!”
Even the tough bits in life God can use for good as he disciplines his children to grow them in godliness.
The Psalms are able to help us process any and every season of life. I’m so thankful for this book as it’s gotten me through many dark nights when “my tears have been my food day and night…” (Psalm 42:3). Yeah, I can be a bit of a drama queen sometimes! But don’t you see? There is totally a Psalm for every occasion.
Which Psalm do you need to meditate on right now in your prayers?
