You’re talking all day.
Maybe not out loud, but you have thoughts running through your head.
Internal dialogue.
Self-talk.
Whatever you want to call it, you’ve got a lot going on in that brain of yours.
How often do you interrupt yourself – and talk to God?
For me, it often happens when there’s a problem.
Sometimes a problem pricks me.
It’s quick and sharp and in-the-moment.
Other times the problems pile on slowly until my heart groans under their weight.
When problems arise, I find myself talking more about God than to God.
“Why is God doing this right now?”
“Why is He letting this happen?”
The Israelites did that, too.
1 Samuel 4 recounts when the Philistines pummeled Israel.
The elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today?”
Their next move was to take the ark of the covenant as a good-luck charm and try again.
They didn’t talk to God.
They didn’t ask Him why.
They talked about Him.
They came up with their own solution that distorted something holy.
Contrast that with the battle of Ai in Joshua’s day.
A tiny town comes out and defeats Israel.
Joshua doesn’t react like the elders did.
He doesn’t ask himself why it happened.
He tears his clothes and falls to the ground.
He mourns and wails and cries out to God.
Alas, O Lord God! Why?!
Joshua pours out his heart to God.
He lays out his doubts and fears.
He calls upon God.
And God answers.
He explains what’s going on to Joshua, and gives him instructions for what to do.
God wants us to talk to Him, not to ourselves.
He wants us to go to HIM with our problems.
Instead of spinning speculations in our own heads,
He wants us to ask Him WHY?!
And to listen for His answer.
He’s the God of relationship.
Let’s talk to Him.
I must tell Jesus All of my trials I cannot bear these burdens alone In my distress He kindly will help me He ever cares and loves His own I must tell Jesus I must tell Jesus I cannot bear these burdens alone I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus Jesus can help me, Jesus alone --Elisha A. Hoffman
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