How Is Your View of God? Is It Accurate? How Do You Know?
How often do you view God as less than He is? How often do you underestimate Him? How often do you think it’s not worth praying because you don’t feel He could help because you see how all of your efforts have fallen flat? How often do you see how He did not answer you in a clear way before, so you stopped asking?
When I talk about “praying through it,” I often get responses that reveal more about their true underlying faith—that they really don’t quite believe God can or will do anything for them… so why bother?
Like, “yeah, yeah, I get it—God is GOD & I am supposed to pray about it more.”
Sometimes they seem to feel more pressure at the suggestion, as if I am asking them to believe harder than they are—as if they are not good enough at believing Him & need to just try harder at it, but really don’t feel like they can do any more than they’re doing already, so it just discourages them when I mention it to them.
As if God is punishing them for not believing Him enough. (He isn’t, by the way.)
Sometimes We May Believe, “Well, of Course He CAN… But That Doesn’t Mean He Will…” How Can We Pray with Any Confidence, Then?
Well, if you have believed any of that, you are in good company because this was me a majority of my life. I understood that God didn’t always give me what I asked, so I always had the mindset that “OF COURSE God CAN… but that does NOT mean He WILL.”
Honestly, I don’t feel that way anymore. All of those mentionings above, where I talked about how much added pressure of just not believing hard enough to get answers were how I once felt… but I don’t ever feel that way anymore.
So, what has changed? Well, if you read my post last week (“You Give & You Serve, But Are You Nourished? “Abide in Me,””) you already have an idea….
Are You Abiding in Him… or Just Calling on Him When You Need Something? Do You Know Him Well Enough to Recognize His Voice & Receive His Peace?
I have learned that the very pivotal piece I was missing was the ABIDING in Him.
Sure, I went to church, I prayed before meals or when I was really stressed. I attended Bible Studies & Sunday School before church… sometimes did a devotional at home… but that was about it for my time with Him.
Now, I am NOT implying that it is a give & take reward, as if God will not care about you UNLESS you do “enough” for Him.
But I AM saying that the more you abide in Him, the more you begin to see the heart of God, to know where you can have confidence in your prayers, how to ask, what to ask, how to believe He will answer. You begin to see His heart.
How to Know When You Can Pray with Confidence
That is why I recommend SO STRONGLY to:
- Read the Bible ALL THE WAY through… not just snippets that sound encouraging, or snippets from devotionals, Bible studies, or church sermons. ALL of it.
- AS you read, look for what it tells you about Who God is, what He cares about, what He hates, what He defends, how He shows up. Look for what it tells you about HIM.
- PRAY for clarity & understanding, as well as asking for His help overcoming your many obstacles preventing you from reading.
The more you get to know God’s nature & eternal character, the easier it is to know when God will honor your request, or whether you’re missing the bigger picture, in which, through humility, He may teach you better to rely on Him instead of your plans or desires, replacing your ache/desperation with His peace.
Sometimes It Is Simply Just Quick, Regular Prayers
I also think, when I point out someone’s need to pray, they have this picture in their head where they think to get an answer, that they may feel burdened by a supposed “necessity” of needing to get down on their knees & do a long, drawn out, dramatic prayer. God hears your every thought, so when you think something wrong or fearful… or you mess something up… just stop & throw out a quick “I’m sorry God. Help me to trust You better in this.” That’s it sometimes.
Yes, there are times where you ought to set aside time & just pour out your heart & lay before Him your needs & requests, hurts & struggles… to praise & thank Him while you’re at it… but we’re called to “pray without ceasing,” (1 Thessalonians 5:15-19) & to “take every thought captive & MAKE it obedient to Christ,” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) so sometimes that means just stopping in mid-thought to turn it over to Him. Nothing elaborate or fancy. Flowery words don’t make a difference to God. He gets it.
Sometimes you may not even have the words to express what you need & so you just lift your eyes up & whisper, “Lord, help.”
Because it’s not about the words. It’s not about using enough words or being flowery or dramatic enough with your words or the amount of words you use or how long you pray. It’s about knowing where your help comes from, that it doesn’t come from you & it sure doesn’t come from the world.
It comes only from Him.
Trust Him More Than You Trust Your Perception of Him
He made the world & everything in it, including you… without your help.
You can trust Him with your concerns big & small.
You can trust He holds your future & He is in full control.
You can trust He has a plan for you & He sees you & He knows you by name.
You can trust He cares for you… He sent Jesus to die for your sins, so how could we ever doubt His love for us? He could have just as well left us to bear the burden & punishment & blame of our own lack of measuring up. But He didn’t….
It’s okay to doubt Him. He knows He is so far above what we could ever fully understand. His is GOD, not fellow man. He is SO far above us. The point is that we don’t turn away from in our doubts, but that we turn to Him in it still.
We don’t have to prove we trust Him “enough.” We can have our doubts… but let those doubts turn into prayers.
What to Do When You Feel Like Praying Isn’t Doing Any Good…
Be willing to pray in your disbelief: “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:23-24)
“God, I don’t know how to believe You have my best interest in this. I have prayed & gotten nowhere. I feel like You don’t care. I know I ought to believe You more. Please help me with that. Help me grow in my love for & trust in You. Don’t let me go. Don’t give up on me. I want to know You more. I want to love You more. I want to trust You more… I just don’t know how. Please help me see You better. Help me learn to rely on You more & to see that You are the best place to place my trust. You are worthy. Help me see it. I’m sorry for my doubts. Forgive me & help me. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”
God knows anyway. You don’t have to flower it up or mask it from Him. Be honest. Be raw & real with Him. Let Him see your heart in all of its doubts, because He already sees it. Trust Him with those doubts. Just cry out to Him to help you change it vs. trying to do everything on your own instead.
Start there: “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.”
I prayed that for years as I began to read my Bible little by little every day & now I do read it every day automatically because I have learned that the Bible & His presence are a VERY REAL sustenance for my soul.
I was living soul-malnourished for so long… now I’m not & boy is it a HUGE difference.
He Shall Direct Your Paths
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8)
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
“I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5)
Feed your soul -> abide in Him.
Shine Hope. PRAY.
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
***He is waiting for you… will you come?:***
***(Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10; John 14:6)***
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Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Sunburst Amate Art, Handcrafted in Southern Mexico!
*Frame is not included. Includes 1 piece of amate art and 1 coordinating mat.
This unique square Amate Art features natural textures and patterns inspired by the Artisans’ ancient Aztec heritage. Each piece of amate art has variations that are unique to the Artisan who created it. The neutral colors and natural textures of this Amate Art coordinates beautifully with almost any wall decor!
Once used as a primary form of communication, record keeping, and religious ceremonies in many villages in Mexico, amate art is traditionally handcrafted using paper pulp made from sustainable and eco-friendly tree bark. Each piece of amate paper often takes one Artisan several days to complete.
Every purchase supports families living in areas of extreme poverty in Mexico.
***SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!***
How Can You Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support MichelleHydeOnline.com?
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
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