What is your relationship with God?
Fearful: God, I will always be a good person because if I am not you will ...
Reasoning: God, I have always loved you and been a good person, why is it that bad things happen to me ...
Negotiable: God, if I go to church every week, and if I give to charity, and if I ... will you then grant me this favour and ...
Argumentative: God, why do you let this happen to me? I thought you cared for me and now look what's happening to me ...
Begging: Please, please God, grant me this favour, it means so much to me please ...
Hesitant: God, I'm not sure whether you'll answer my prayer, or whether you even listen to prayers, I'm just praying just in case ...
Questioning: Why is this happening to me? I thought you loved me, God. I'm confused. I thought that loving you would mean I'd be OK ...
Demanding: God I want you to do this for me, and then this and ...
None of the above: Or perhaps you are one of many who does not have any relationship with God at all, because you do not believe He exists; or if He does, He does not feature in your life.
I am sure you can think of other ways that we turn to God in prayer. And perhaps rarely in thanksgiving for what we already have and take for granted.
But how should we pray to God, what should our relationship with Him be like?
Let's see what Jesus has to say about it:
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name ..." Matthew 6:9
"So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows …" Luke 12:7
"What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a
snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So
if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how
much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who
ask Him!" Luke 11:11-13
"Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." Matthew 6:8
Often Jesus describes God as a loving Father. His Father as well as ours. He is our Creator who cares for His children as any good Father does.
I believe that's how God would like us to pray; that's the kind of relationship He desires. One of trust, love and respect based on the sure knowledge that He cares and loves us and no matter what happens in the world, and in our lives, He is always there by our side.
We need to review often our relationship with God. It should not be a cowering subservient relationship based on fear of punishment and retribution. If God is love then we should be confident enough that He will protect us come what may. To behave otherwise would be an insult to Him in that it betrays our trust in a loving Father.
Victor...Sorry! But l find this a little over the top...
ReplyDeleteWho on earth speaks/talks to God in such ways..?
I speak to God in my own way..I have 'NEVER'
asked him for anything, l would'nt even speak to
a friend, let alone God in such a way..we are mere
mortals..we don't deserve anything from God, unless
we earn it, and he freely gives it to us..!
And as for Begging and Demanding..that is just sinful..!
As for the others..they sound to much like Blackmail to
me...Do you think you can get away with blackmailing
God...!
Thankfully 'NONE' of the above apply to me....! And
should'nt apply to any of us...! Just be thankful you
have a life and believe..!
Willie ... there are many people who pray to God this way.
DeleteThey either see Him as a tyrannic power and they should cower in fear; or they think they can bribe Him with the promise of reciting several Rosaries, or lighting candles, and so on in order to obtain favours.
God bless.
And one cannot 'buy' or 'bribe' ones self into heaven...!
DeleteI cannot understand people who see God as tyrannical
power or cower in fear...That's going back to biblical
days..l've not known or met the like in the currant day!
Never..!
...a series of difficult questions.
ReplyDeleteYes, we should examine our attitude towards God.
DeleteGod bless, Tom.
I like this.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sandi. It's good to see you visiting here again.
DeleteGod bless.
Message sincerely needed in today's world.
DeleteNow, for a fact I TRIED this one time for a devastating effect on OUR lives... Demanding: God I want you to do this for me, and then this and ...
The results were felt for YEARS....
Love and prayers from here, Sherry & jacki
I guess we all fall in that trap, Jack. We demand of God, almost greedily, for this and that and this other thing, just like a child pestering his parents in a sweet or toy shop. God understands that, and often He obliges, and He forgives just like any loving father would.
DeleteGod bless you and yours.
I have to admit, in the past my prayers most closely resembled #'s 1 and 2. These days I TRY to give thanks in all circumstances. And when difficulties arise, I ask that He help me understand.
ReplyDeleteSame here, Mevely. The thing is, we have not been taught how to relate to God. In my early Christian lessons we learnt the Ten Commandments, the Old Testament stories, and one must admit; God does appear as a punishing God in those readings.
DeleteChrist coming on earth as a human was to teach us how to relate to God, Our Father who is in Heaven. We so need to learn more from what Jesus had to say.
God bless always dear friend.
I have a close walk with God, love Him, and know He loves me. I can't imagine a day without God by my side.
ReplyDeleteAmen Happyone. God bless.
DeleteEvery morning I wake up I thank God for the night, be it slept over or filled with insomnity or pain, and every evening I thank Him for the day. And keep thanking Him for many things and people and events during the day, for myself and for others. And beg for be given many things if such be His will for me. And I love Him :)
ReplyDeleteThankful prayers always, Ladka. God bless you and your family.
Delete... to be given ...
ReplyDeleteA good dialogue with God should be like you're talking to your best friend.
ReplyDeleteAmen Bill. God bless you and yours.
DeleteI so love what Bill said here, Victor! He is our loving Father, and we should love Him back with gratitude and joy.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Yes, I agree, Martha. God bless.
DeleteIt's a joy to talk to our Heavenly Abba and Jesus and the Blessed Spirit. While i do let Him know my needs, it's simply to acknowledge that all things come from Him. He knows what we need, and likes to be asked anyway, so we remember Who He is and who we are.
ReplyDeleteAmen Mimi. God bless you always.
DeleteDearest Victor,
ReplyDeleteNone of the above but thanking God each day for so many things and for his protection!
Demanding things or favors is a NO—NO.
Hugs,
Mariette
Well said, Mariette. God bless you and Pieter.
Delete💞
DeleteI feel my relationship with God is a Father and daughter relationship Victor, and I am learning from His wisdom daily. What I find He is showing me mostly in His Word is the definition of love, as in being kind and forgiving and backing away from being judgemental. I have always loved talking to people when I go out, so much so that my husband tells people that if they see any two legged donkeys around it is because I talk the hind legs off them. Hmmm...
ReplyDeleteI like your husband's description of you, Brenda. Keep smiling my friend.
DeleteGod bless.