Learning To Have a Conversation with My Creator

In review of Psalm 116:1-2 it says, “I love the LORD because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” (NLT).

Today’s passage is from the first part of Psalm 116. In it the psalmist says, I love the Lord, because he hears me; he listens to my prayers. He listens to me every time I call to him.

God is so responsive that I can always reach him. He bends down and listens to my voice. My worship is a thankful response and not a repayment for what God had for what God has done. So when I'm discouraged, I can remember that God is near, listening carefully to every prayer and answering me in order to give his best.

What I’m learning is that on the days when I have deep, significant talks with God, my relationship grows. On the days when I have little or no conversation with God, my relationship decays. It’s that simple.

When I really love somebody, I don’t just want to spend time together. I want to talk with that person. Just like when I first fell in love as a teenager and my parents got upset because I was always on the phone? I talked and talked and talked because I was getting to know that person. Communication is how I get to know others.

So what do I talk about if I want to express love to God? Well, anything that I’d talk to my closest friend about: my hopes, fears, dreams, anxieties, the things I’m embarrassed about, the things I’m proud of, the things I’m ashamed of, my goals, ambitions, hurts, and cares, basically every part of my life.

If I don’t feel close to God because my daily walk has become routine, dull, joyless, and lifeless, there’s a simple remedy: Start talking to God again.

Prayer is not some duty that I have to do. It’s a privilege that I get to do. I get to talk to the Creator of the universe! He’s waiting on me to have a conversation with him so that my relationship can grow.

Bottom Line:

Love the Lord, for he hears your prayers when you call to him.

What this means to me:

I love the Lord, for he hears my prayers every time I call to him.

In summary, God hears me, he listens to my prayers. He listens each time I call to him. My worship is a thankful response, not a repayment. When I have deep, significant talks, my relationship grows. When I have little or no conversation, my relationship decays. Talking and communication is how we get to know others. I can talk to God about anything I may talk to my closest friend about. If I feel I'm not close to God, start talking with him again. He's waiting on me.

I’ve been thinking lately that I no longer have a local / close friend. I live a fairly isolated life. I have my wife who’s my closest confident. I have work acquaintances, employees and leaders, but not a close friend. I do spend time each week work day in time in God’s Word, but not necessarily in an interactive conversation with God. This morning I’m going to practice opening up my hopes, fears, dreams, anxieties, the things I’m embarrassed about, the things I’m proud of, the things I’m ashamed of, my goals, ambitions, hurts, and cares, basically every part of my life with God.

I also pray this morning Father for your continued wisdom and guidance in handling my work responsibilities, leadership and interaction with others. This I pray through your son Jesus name, amen.