I’m pretty sure I need a sign like this hanging somewhere in my house where I’ll see it every day- “Have you prayed about it more than you’ve talked about it?  Better yet, maybe it should be the wallpaper on my phone. 

If you know me well, you know I love to talk. I’m energized by connecting with others and seeking out their input. I wouldn’t even want to begin to count the number of times my answer to this question would be “no.”  

You see, I often make the mistake of talking through things with friends or family members first, and turn to prayer as a last step. What I’m sometimes left with is more unsettled feelings and higher anxiety because the more I share, the more amped up I tend to get. So why would I choose to go to God last instead of first or leave God out of the loop altogether? I think there are many answers this question, but this morning what immediately comes to mind is my desire for control and my lack of trust. Can you relate?  

Initially, I want to do everything in my power to try to control the outcome of any given situation I’m facing. And it’s often not until I realize again and again and again, that I’m not in control of the outcome of any situation, that I seek out God, pray, and put my trust in Him. It’s definitely a trust issue for me, and that’s hard to admit. I’ve grown so much in my faith, but questions like this make me realize I need to keep investing in my relationship with God through reading His word and praying. God is changing my heart from the inside out, but it’s a process. I need to stay connected with others believers who help to remind me of who God is, the hope that we have in Jesus, and how important it is to maintain an eternal perspective rather than to get caught up in the whirlwind of chaos in the here and now.  

Let’s go to God in prayer today? Let’s pause for a moment and make Him our first point of contact and trust that He is fully aware of every detail. And pay attention to how different it feels when we do.