UP FRONT WITH GOD

Humble yourselves therefore under
the might hand of God, that He may
exalt you in due time:
casting all your care upon Him;
for He careth for you.
I Peter 5:6,7

You may have heard a friend say of her teenage child, “My child tells me everything.” Hopefully you haven't been guilty of saying something like that. It's a statement for those who hear it, to choke on. That may be the way it is in the early growth years of a child where there is a simpler relationship, but when the“mean teens” set in, even the best of teens become more and more private. I will hasten to add that most moms I've known going through those teen years, are not stupid and probably know more about the goings on of their children than their children know.

There is something from my stand point that I would also have to say... “I don't tell God everything.” That statement may seem an odd one for a Christian to make. I have to recoil in shame just typing that statement. Just like children feel they can hide the simplest of things from their parents, I'm afraid at times we are the same with our Heavenly Father.

I wonder, if you're like me, that we don't share fully with God because we feel He already knows everything about us anyway. Other times, we may not share with Him those things we don't want Him to know. Sounds a little silly on our part. We have to know by now because of God's promise to be with us at all times, never leaving or forsaking us, even to the point of His holding us in the palm of His hand that He knows absolutely EVERTHING about us before we can tell Him ANYTHING. His Holy Spirit abides in us and God knows even the number of hairs on our heads. That's pretty precise. Who do we think we are kidding?

We hear a lot about transparency in our day. It indicates one being open and honest with no front presented. Why do we avoid being transparent with God on a voluntary basis? One reason could be that we just aren't people of prayer, unless an emergency comes up. Maybe something in our lives is too bad to even tell God, if that's possible. It must sadden our Father though, our lack of sharing with Him even the joys that come into our lives. I loved when my children shared positive things with me as well as negative ones. God our Father wants to be a personal and vital part of our lives no matter what is going on. After all, He knows everything about everything. He wants our fellowship and communication no matter where we are in our every day experiences.

We can hide nothing from our Heavenly Father. I doubt we even try most of the time because we understand the Sovereignty of God that comes down into the lives of little old us. The more we confide in Him, the more He loves listening to us. There is nothing we can hide from Him even if we tried. Most important, He wants us to be up front and honest with Him because it's an indicator of our trust in and love for Him.

Our Father doesn't need a lot of fancy words from us. He wants us to feel a freedom in talking with Him at any time for any reason. However, as we pray, we need to remember He hears our hearts the same as our words. He delights in our communication with Him no matter how big or small the feelings we have to express to Him. He wants us to be people of truth, especially with Him. Anything else is an insult to His glory and character.

Father, forgive my lack of prayer, just talking with You about ordinary things in my life. Too often I get busy and just ignore You. Forgive my being thoughtless and ungrateful. Help me through Your Spirit's prompting to speak to You freely because of loving You and not just because I feel I have to. In Jesus' precious name....Amen