Daily devotional, 12 April 2024 Formal request
"We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him."
John 9:31
When dealing with government agencies, especially when requesting for permission to use a certain resource, one will be asked to make a “formal letter of request” to process the thing he is asking for. There may be a pro-forma letter, but more often than not, such letters are penned in formal, even legalistic language. For this reason, some people get intimidated with processing or requesting something from public offices because of such formalities.
As followers of Jesus, we are glad that there is no need for us to be too formal in presenting our requests to Him. He listens to us no matter how we relate to Him, because our God is a relational God, who values our connection with Him.
"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord,"
Jeremiah 29:12-14
For him as long as our hearts are sincere, He listens and He responds. He may not answer the way we may want Him to answer, but we can be sure that His solution and timing is the best.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Isaiah 55:8-9
So how do we pray to God? Do we have to be formal when talking to Him? Do we need to speak in straight English? Taglish (combination of Filipino and English), or do we talk to Him in our local dialect?
The answer is, we can talk to Him in the manner we are most comfortable relating to Him. We do not need to use words from the King James Bible. We do not need to speak in straight English. We can speak to Him in Filipino, Taglish, our native dialect, or even through muffles and sad cries. He can even hear what our hearts say when we are at a loss for words and could not even bear to speak.
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God."
Romans 8:26-27
If we are the type to pray with our minds, that is okay with Him too. If we are the type who verbally enunciates the things we want to say to Him, then He is sure to listen. If we are the type who whispers prayers deeply, then God is more than happy to see us with our sincere hearts praying. The bottomline is He is listening. He even actually listens to us even if we are angry, shouting, or telling Him our resentments. His heart is big and mature enough to understand. What our God wants is that we know in our hearts that it is to Him we have to run to when we are both troubled or happy. That He is our first resource when we are struggling, and not our last resort as we try to wriggle ourselves out of trouble.
"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Hebrews 4:16
As for the length of prayer, well God can listen to us go on and on about our day, about our issues, about our thanksgiving, so there is no time limit there. It is usually us humans who put a time limit when it comes to communing with Him. But in reality, the Lord is available to us 24/7.
We can also pray for brief moments, we can also in bursts. We can pray lengthily once a day, and the remaining prayers be brief and concise. We can pray by writing Him a journal entry. What is important is that each prayer comes from the heart, is done out of love and worship to Him, and not just a sense of duty.
"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people"
Ephesians 1:18
We do not have to go to our place of worship to pray. In reality, we can pray in our bedroom, in our home, in our garden, or even in the roof decks of our office or some quiet place.
"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
John 4:23-24
If we have yet to forge an intentional prayerful life, then the best time to start is now. You may not be comfortable right away, you may lack the words to say, or get distracted more than you should be, but wanting and having the discipline to put God first in everything — including your day, will surely change your life for the better.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Matthew 6:33
Start with just two minutes, followed by meditating on a bible passage of your choice, or from a devotional book or app, and let it start from there. Do it everyday of your life, first thing in the morning. Present to Him everything you want to say: thanksgiving, requests, fears, sad stories, funny stories. He is willing to listen.
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Jeremiah 29:11-14 and Psalm 139 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Are you intimidated with the thought of spending time in prayer?
Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, I praise and thank you for wanting to have a relationship with me. For calling unto me despite my failures and mistakes, and for calling me in love. Give me the confidence to come to you in prayer every single day, and abide by your words. I want to live in the peace that only you can give. Amen.