Talk To Me | Northstar Church

“You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. 18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 3:17–18.

We can talk to God anywhere, anytime. God wants to talk to us. That may be surprising for some. For many, God seems like a distant father, tolerating us but not really interested in our lives. Believe it or not, quite the opposite is true. God wants to be a part of every detail and wants us to know who He really is. But it takes faith. It takes coming to grips with the invisible presence of our all-present God. God is probably not going to light a shrub on fire in our front yards to get our attention as He did through Moses and the burning bush. Yet, because of Jesus, we can still experience His presence in real terms.

The important thing is that we’re giving our attention to God – and that we’re talking to Him. This doesn’t need to be out loud, either; of course, God knows our every thought and intention. But it shouldn’t be a “chore” – it needs to be real, authentic and truthful. By talking to God, we’re reminding ourselves that no matter what is going on in our lives – no matter how difficult it might be or what struggles we are going through – the most important thing in our life is our relationship with God. We need to nurture our relationship with Him. After all, when you have a relationship with someone, you want to hear from them regularly. The same goes for God. He wants to hear from us. Psalm 34:15 perfectly sums up the importance of why we need to talk to God: “The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; His ears are open to their cries for help.”

Moses, David, Job, Jesus and many more figures from the Bible all expressed their anger, confusion, and dismay to God. “At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46) Then there is Job 10:1-4: “I am disgusted with my life. Let me complain freely. My bitter soul must complain. I will say to God, ‘Don’t simply condemn me—tell me the charge you are bringing against me. What do you gain by oppressing me? Why do you reject me, the work of your own hands, while smiling on the schemes of the wicked? Are your eyes like those of a human? Do you see things only as people see them?” The Bible repeatedly shows faith-filled people engaged in frank, direct cries to God’s face.

The Bible tells us time and time again of the importance of speaking to God. And we also know He is always listening, and answers all our prayers in His own way (even if His answer is sometimes “no” or “not quite yet”). That does not mean that you should talk to God just as you would to a very respected friend. Don’t worry about using any special form of words. Just talk openly, honestly, and sincerely from your heart. (This is what “prayer” is supposed to be.)

Whatever may be going on in your life today, know this: God loves you. He will be in control if you let Him. Speak to Him and then listen for His voice. Expect Him to take over the circumstances and know with great assuredness in your heart that He is going to meet your needs.

Discussion Questions:

What are the benefits of talking to God about everything?
What can you do this week to think about God more often?