Prayer too Deep for Words

There’s a Christian song that has been out since 2009 called “Let my words be few” by Matt Redman.  It describes how many times we get caught up in going on and on about our needs and ideas that we miss God’s part of the conversation.  It’s a good reminder.  But this week I was reminded that it can also go the other way.  I’d asked someone if they’d prayed about a topic they were sharing.  They answered yes.  But I could see the look on their face and I responded, “No, I mean with words not just groans of the Spirit.”  The answer changed to “No.”

In today’s facebook posting, instant messaging, snap chat, and texting society we’ve lost the personal touch of our voice. We keep up with our friends and relatives on facebook.   I keep in contact with my kids by text, as I’m sure most of you do.  But sometimes I just want to hear their voice.  It isn’t farfetched to think our Heavenly Father wants the same personal connection.

When we communicate with our voice you can hear inflections and tone that you can’t get from written words and especially not from the short often grunted prayer, “O Lord!”.  Studies also show that when we speak, multiple areas of our brains engage in the process.  It stands to reason that hearing our own voice verbalizing the prayer can reveal more insights as it sparks our brain into action.  For instance, you might recall a Bible Verse.  You might recall a similar situation in the Bible or a testimony you heard that was inspiring.  It’s like the phrase “thinking out loud”.  You can take this a step further and write out the prayer, which triggers another part of the brain.

Ladies tend to be this type of thinker more than men and introverts think this way more than extroverts.  But, we can all get trapped in laziness and even stand on the verse found in Roman’s 8 that tells us we don’t need to use words, He knows our heart, He knows our thoughts… And sure, He knows our heart. Yes, He knows our situation.  And of course He knows our feelings.  Speaking these words out loud causes us to think and reason about our feelings, situation, and our heart.  When we do He can provide revelation and answers in a deep way that “speaks” to our spirit.   Proverbs 2: 1-6,10 reads:

"My child, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding-
indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Then you will understand what is right and just and fair – following every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart,and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul."

It gives me pause to think that God is longing to hear my voice.  I’m pretty chatty and sometimes I imagine God like Jim Carey in the movie “Bruce Almighty” going crazy with all of the prayer voices in his head.  Thankfully, God is better at handling our prayers than Bruce was; and He really does want us to talk to him. There are many verses that tells us to “Call to the Lord” and “Ask for wisdom”.  In Matthew 6 Jesus even taught us to pray saying… Not groaning, not thinking, not feeling, but speaking out loud to God with words.  If God didn’t love words, He wouldn’t have provided us with so many languages or songs or the multiple praises contained in the Psalms. Even the angels sing  and speak praises to Him!  And when He created the world he started with speaking – “Let there be light”.

The Bible verse in Roman’s 8 was meant to be a comfort for seasons in our lives when words won’t come or when the pain is so deep we can’t speak them. Then, the Holy Spirit speaks for us. Seasons change and our prayer life needs to reflect those changes as well as keep our personal connection to God flowing. Just like my friend’s face told the real story, you’ll know where you stand.  So, if it’s time for you to speak to God, I encourage you to  use your words in the seasons you are able and put aside the laziness of groans by the Spirit on your behalf.

BONUS CHALLENGE - wherever you are reading this blog right now pray this prayer out loud:  

**Lord, I am in awe that you long to hear my voice. Sometimes, finding the words to say is hard but I want to be closer to you so I will try harder to put my thoughts into words in prayer. I love you and ask you to forgive me for those times I was able to talk to you and chose not to. Please help me find the words to speak my mind and share my heart with you in a more personal way.**

 “Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the expectant hope, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” Romans 8:26-28 Message Version

Other verses about using words to call to God. Matthew 7:7 Matthew 21:22 James 4:2 Psalms 143 Psalms 102 Psalms 39 Jeremiah 33:3 Psalms 91  Isaiah 58: 9  Psalms 34:17  Psalms 50:15

Click here for link to see Bruce NOT handling prayer like God does