Post #11: Stop, Drop, and Pray

FACT:  when I pray to God, I’m not telling Him anything new.  After all, “…your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!” (cf. Matthew 6:8 / NLT)

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Okay, so I don’t know of any other way to share this with you than to tell you.  So, here goes.
 
So, yesterday I was in a mental fog.  I’m sorry if that seems dramatic; however, that’s precisely what it felt like.  I was overwhelmed with thoughts of ministry, planning for 2017, starting a new sermon series, house hunting with my wife, promoting the blog, the events of the weekend, and a host of other things. 
 
I don’t know about you, but I become useless when I find myself in this space.  In other words, when I have that much going on in my mind, I’m not sure if you can relate, but I find it hard to figure out my first step.  Thus, with all the previous problems, I now have another. 
 
You see, on top of everything I noted before, I must figure out how to get going.  
 
Ugh.
 
However, I know this season.  I’ve been here before.  It’s when I don’t want to get out of bed.  It’s when any new task (even if it’s small) takes all the wind out of my sail.  I become irritable, short, insensitive, and distant (a host of characteristics that make being a preacher challenging.)
 
So, what did I do to overcome this?  Well, I got up, got in the shower, and began to pray as the water ran over me.  
 
Shameful (yet honest) confession:  I didn’t pray my common morning prayer.  I don’t know if you have one, but I’m noticing that I do—however, not today. 
 
Today, I began to tell God what I told you.  I told Him I was overwhelmed and disoriented and didn’t know what to do.  Nonetheless, I also told Him (and myself) that I hadn’t forgotten who He was amid all this.  I reminded myself that He had been my strength for a long time.  He’s aided me before, and I knew He would assist me today.
 
For those who are here seeking a better understanding of our relationship with God, I want you to know that this post-prayer feeling is wonderful.  This feeling reminds me of exactly what prayer is all about.
 
FACT:  I’m not telling Him anything new when I pray.  After all, “…your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!” (cf. Matthew 6:8 / NLT)  
 
Do you know what that means?  That means He knew I was in an insufficient space.  Even before I prayed, God knew I was frustrated and tired and needed His help.  And, after the prayer, I felt it was all better.  I knew I wasn’t alone.  I knew He had my back.  I knew with God; this was going to be okay. 
 
So, here’s the question:  if He knew that’s where I was all along, why not just help me?   He saw me when I woke up… BECAUSE HE woke me up.  He saw me dealing with the day's troubles, knew I needed His help, and elected to allow me to remain there until my shower prayer. 
 
And to that, I ask, “Why God?”
 
I don’t claim to hear His voice; however, I trust His Spirit.  And I perceive the Spirit was saying this…
 
“Kevin, prayer has nothing to do with you INFORMING God about anything.  Rather, prayer is where YOU LEARN to TRUST God with EVERYTHING.”
 
And the whole church said, Amen. 
 
Your thoughts?
 
Imperfectly,
 
Kevin D. Jones, Sr.
@kevindjonessr