GodReflection: Talking with God.
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; – Psalms 95:6
Like a cup of coffee shared with a friend, the gift of my time and a prayer for two hearts facilitates talk with God. To talk is not always an easy task in our digital nanosecond world. Soundbite communication is a 21st century reality. We let time for conversation evaporate and leave little space for heart-to-heart intimacy.
Information passes before my eyes at the speed of a celebratory pyrotechnic-
display. I skim the surface of subjects of interest yet fail to take time to understand the full impact of what is written. Increasingly, attention seems harder to give.
Preconceived opinions shouted from pundits and pulpits invade my ears. The rapid flow of words seldom makes the detour through my mind. The Mach-speed of the opinion avalanche is not conducive to communication.
Real communication takes time. Prayer is no different. It calls for my time and attention.
If I am to carry on a conversation with my Creator, I must clear the static and examines two hearts. Both hearts are of eternal importance. Neither are soundbite subjects. The truth is, I will never be able to comprehend either heart fully while I walk upon the face of earth.
To be a sincere friend of God, so that we can talk and visit, I must know my own heart. At times God’s heart seems easier to know than my own.
Augustine of Hippo, a Jesus-follower from the early centuries of the church, prayed, “Lord, that I may know myself, in order to know Thee.”
Because of the residual of my Adamic wiring, I need to inspect my heart is to clear away deception. Thus, to know my own heart is indispensable to heart health. Since my heart connects to my portrayal of Jesus before others and as heart affects destiny, I want to live in examination mode.
Job places his finger on reality when he asks his accusers, “Would it turn out well if He examined you? Could you deceive Him as you might deceive a mortal?” Translation: God knows my heart; I cannot fool him.
A self-inflicted heart exam in quiet and reflective stillness is always in order. To do so is an act of worshipful prayer preparation. I pray because of the confidence I have in Jesus’ gracious blood to purify both recognized and unrecognized defects found in my heart.
There is an action plea in the Book of Lamentations that reminds me of the power flow from self-examination: Let us examine our ways and test them and let us return to the Lord.
Perhaps my greatest challenge to talk with God at ease is to understand with intense clarity my need-to-know not only my heart, but to know God’s heart. And yet, only as I talk with him will that happen.
The Creator wants me to know his heart. He wrote down his story. The more I examine his story, the more I hear him speak of constant and consistent love for me. He tells me the story of Jesus. Through Jesus, I receive grace that allows God to count me sinless. I come to know God by time spent in Scripture as I examine the character and acts of Jesus. By seeing Jesus, I see God. When I offer the Holy the gift of time to read my Bible, is not that also an act of prayer? It is my request to God that he talk with me. I listen to him so I can reflect and answer.
The more I read Scripture and invite the Holy Spirit to live and work through me, the more I will come to understand and know the Creator’s heart. And the more I see him as my friend. To pray is to keep company with God. Will not that increase my ease to talk with him?
Dear God, I pledge The Gift of My Time to spend in discovery of your heart through Scripture. I Pray for Your Heart to saturate my heart. I Pray for My Heart. May you Spirit move me to examine my own heart with more care. Grant me a greater portion of your heart in my daily walk. May I become more generous with The Gift of My Time as an offering of worship; time spent in community and conversation with you. In the name of Jesus, the Son, Amen.
Will you join with me and pledge the Gift of Time to seek God’s heart; and to submit our own hearts to The Holy; so that our conversation can increase as we grow more at ease in our effort to talk with God?
Stay tuned.
Dr. Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection on The Gift of My Time, A Prayer for Two Hearts.
God Reflection 
Gary, Thank you for these words on the importance of taking time to examine our hearts before God. They are very good and helpful. God bless you.
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Challenging and interesting thoughts…keep up the good work!
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