Hi sisters,
Do you ever feel tired of just begging God for things? Let me share what I mean by that. This last year has been filled with my requests: physical healing for chronic pain; fellowship; justice with a massive corporation; financial help; restoration for pieces of marriage; finding people who are hungry for God; car help; changes for my husband’s work; and on my list goes. Some of these scenarios would weigh so heavy on me that I felt my time talking to God was consumed with me pleading with God to change my circumstances.
This led me to telling God (and I’ve said this a few times), “I want things to go back to how they were. When I wasn’t just begging you to do x, y, z or constantly asking you for something materially. When I felt like I was firing on all cylinders for Your Kingdom.”
And God so mercifully reminded me that all of this was about ME not Him! Please do not hear me saying that tough situations don’t matter, because they do matter. This is what God has been teaching me and revealing to me about the dark corners of my heart. It could be completely different for someone else. (Maybe someone else needs to learn they can go before God’s throne to pour out their heart.)
The phrase God continues to recall to my memory is a “sacrifice of thanksgiving.” Check out these verses:
“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High . . . The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me” (Ps. 50:14, 23a).
“And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!” (Ps. 107:22)
“I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD” (Ps. 116:17).
Last night was one of the nights when all I wanted to do was beg God to change things. However, I also saw how my begging was becoming whining. Yes God wants to hear my requests (Phil. 4:6,7), but I was tired of hearing my whine. I was tired of it being all about ME. As my mom would say when I was little, “That’s enough Kayla.” To which I would usually cry louder!
But last night, I put on my big girl panties, grabbed a journal, and told God I was going to praise Him and thank Him. After that, I was going to ask some requests that had nothing to do with me and had more to do with the big picture. And that’s exactly what I did.
I wrote the alphabet, A-Z down my page. I made three columns and titled them Praise, Thanks, and Requests, respectively. I started with column one: Praise. I listed an attribute of God or something that’s part of His identity for each letter of the alphabet. God I praise you because you are: A – Abba, B – the Beginning, C – the Commander, D – Divine, etc.
Then I moved onto Thanks. I attempted to think broadly and remember things that did not benefit only me, myself, and I. For example, H – Holy Spirit, I – IJM . . . S – Stars (Isaiah 40:26), T – Trials (remembering James 1:2-4) . . . W – your Word, etc. Again, something for each letter of the alphabet.
Lastly, I made requests. I went back through my praise list and thanks list before starting. God I pray for: A – Apostasy to be healed . . . K – the Kingdom of God to advance . . . Y – Your name to be made known, Z – Zeal in your people. (This could also include specific countries or the issues of our day, etc).
It was refreshing to refocus. I needed to remember that God does not owe me anything, yet He sent His Son and offered His covenant to me. I die to self, and live to Christ. If God wants to shake “my world” or allows it to be shaken, that doesn’t change who He is, so I should praise Him. It doesn’t change what I can be thankful for, so I should thank Him. And regardless of circumstances, I can still pray BIG. I can pray for God’s Kingdom, for nations around the world, for justice to win, and for the next generation!
What about you? Even if you don’t relate to my story in particular, consider taking time from your week to do a similar activity (Oh, I definitely googled words when I got stuck!). Maybe go on a prayer walk or invite another woman to do this activity with you. Praise Him, thank Him, and pray BIG!
By the River Together 