Stop, Drop, & 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 just tell you.  So, here goes.
 
So, yesterday I was in a mental fog.  I’m sorry if that seems dramatic; however, that’s exactly what it feels like.  I was very overwhelmed with thoughts of ministry, planning for 2017, starting a new sermon series, house hunting with my wife, promotion of the blog, the events of the weekend, and a host of other things. 
 
I don’t know about you, but when I find myself in this space, I literally become inept.  In other words, when I have that much going on in my mind, I’m not sure if you can relate, but I literally find it hard to figure out what my first step is.  Thus, there adds another problem. 
 
For you see, on top of all that I have, now I have to actually figure out how to get going.  WHAT?!
 
But, 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) literally takes all the wind out of my sail.  I become irritable, short, insensitive, and distant (a host of characteristic that make being a preacher just a little bit challenging.)
 
So, what did I do?  Well, I got up, got in the shower, and as the water ran over me, I began to pray. 
 
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, disoriented, and that I didn’t know what to do.  I told Him (and myself) that in the midst of all of this, I hadn’t forgotten who He was.  I reminded myself that He has been my strength for a mighty long time.  He’s aided me before, and that I knew He would aid me today.
 
For those who are here seeking God, I want you to know that this post-prayer feeling is life.  This feeling reminds me of exactly what prayer is all about.
 
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) 
 
Do you know what that means?  That means, He knew I was in a bad space.  Even before I prayed, God knew I was frustrated, overcome, and that I 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 go ahead and help me?  I mean, He saw me when I woke up… BECAUSE HE woke me up.  He saw me dealing with the troubles of the day, He knew I needed His help, and He elected to allow for me to remain there, until my shower prayer. 
 
And to that I ask, “Why God?”
 
Well, I don’t claim to hear His voice; however, I trust His Spirit.  And I perceive the Spirit 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