Be Honest With God
'And Jesus, knowing the thought of their heart...' (Luke 9:47)
After more than 60 years of ministry I am still learning - I am still asking, "Lord teach me how to pray". During this time I have learnt that prayer is simple, honest communication with God; He knows what I really think in my heart, so I might as well be honest. He knows every doubt, fear, disappointment and frustration I feel - so why pretend differently?
Most of my life I have tried to learn simple lessons about communication. Not many people have the ability to communicate exactly what is in their mind to other people. Most of my life I have had to use interpreters and this is where I came to understand the problem. Unless my interpreter fully understands what I am trying to say, he cannot translate it. Grammar, sentence construction and even words are so different in other languages. I remember many years ago in Russia I had two different interpreters, both girls, trying to translate what I was saying to the pastor. Their translations were almost opposite! One said correctly that I would only do what the pastor asked 'if'. This was very much conditional upon other people. The second, who really wanted me to do it, said simply that I would, unconditionally! Result - confusion! Another time I had an older woman translate. What I was speaking strongly as a man, she spoke so sweetly as a woman! As a result several times she had to re-phrase what she was saying as it was in contrast to me!
Simply talk to God as you would a friend. Sometimes before I hold a prayer meeting, I talk about the problem first, knowing that God is the unseen guest, the silent listener to every conversation. I know God is there, He is listening. Before we ask, He's already heard everything; He knows what is in our hearts, what we think, what we want, what we need, but He wants to put it into words. When a child is first born, the parents respond to each cry; but as the child becomes older, it is taught to communicate in words what the problem is - the parent cannot help unless the child articulates the issue; it is the same with prayer. Be simple and honest.
'The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.' (1 Samuel 16:7)