Day #9: When Talking with God

Be careful what you do when you go to the temple of God; draw near to listen rather than to offer a sacrifice like fools, for they do not realize that they are doing wrong. Do not be rash with your mouth or hasty in your heart to bring up a matter before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth! Therefore, let your words be few. (Ec 5:1-2)

 Too Many Words

 

Solomon offers two practical insights on prayer.  His first bit of advice deals with talking too much.  In approaching God, it is good to remember that He is in heaven, and we are in earth.  Therefore, a dose of humility is appropriate.  We should remember to hold Him in awe as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He is worthy of our highest praise.  There is no place for a laundry list of requests.  Our words should be few and well chosen.  We should say what we mean and mean what we say.  We don't need to ramble on giving God an update on current events, which He already knows.  Sure, we should submit our requests, and He listens intently.  But remember He is our loving heavenly Father and knows our needs before we ask.

 

Jesus said, "When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Mt 6:7-8)

 

Learn to Listen

 

Solomon says to "draw near to listen".  Prayer should be more than a one-way street.  As we pour out our hearts to God, we should learn to listen.  His Spirit may bring to mind Scripture that can speak to our present situation.  Often, He will comfort us when distraught, or challenge us when needed.  But be careful who you listen to (Lk 8:18).  If your subjective impressions do not match with Scripture, they are not from God.

 

Rash Vows

 

His second warning about prayer involves rash vows.  When making requests of God, it is so easy to begin to bargain with Him.  "If you will do such and such, I will promise to do whatever."  An abundance of words often leads to this.

 

Just as dreams come when there are many cares, so the rash vow of a fool occurs when there are many words. When you make a vow to God, do not delay in paying it. For God takes no pleasure in fools: Pay what you vow! It is better for you not to vow than to vow and not pay it. (Ec 5:3-5)

 

Making vows to God is not advisable.  But if you do, you better pay up, as they say.  Your integrity is on the line when you promise God something.  He takes your words seriously.  He will hold you accountable, so be careful.

 

Jesus warned, “Again, you have heard that it was said to an older generation, ‘Do not break an oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not take oaths at all—not by heaven, because it is the throne of God, not by earth, because it is his footstool, and not by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. Do not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’ More than this is from the evil one." (Mt 5:33-37)

 

And if we think we can manipulate God by bargaining, we are sorely mistaken.  We can do nothing to twist His arm into doing something that is outside His sovereign plan.  And if we could, it would only make matters worse.  His plan represents the best of all possible scenarios.  He sees the beginning from the end and knows what is best for His children and His glory.  When presenting our requests to God, it is proper to conclude with, "not my will, but thine be done."


Questions to consider:

 

  1. How would you define "conversational prayer"?
  2. When someone bargains what does that say about their view of God?
  3. Why can an oath be so damaging to our walk with God?

 

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