Tag: Address

Address the King

When we are praying, are we really addressing the LORD, or are we speaking in hopes that He hears us in what we are saying and wanting?

“1My heart overflows with a pleasing theme:

I address my verses to the king;

my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.”

— Psalm 45:1 (ESV)

Here we see the psalmist announcing his address of the king. Now, the king here is likely a Davidic king, however isn’t it a statement that all of us Christians should be making to our LORD. I asked the question in the first paragraph to draw in our thinking and admit that I may not be addressing the LORD all the time myself.

Our prayer should be directed at the LORD, not just spoken aloud as a part of a ritual or process. We should be having conversations with God, not just our oration and He listening. I think that sometimes we use God as a sounding board to get out what we want to say and expect that He will solve it all as we just move on to the next. After all, the LORD is always with us and listening for us, right.

I have to remember that yes, the LORD is always with me and is listening for me. But, He is also looking to commune with me. He does not just want to sit back and let us vent to Him, although He does do that and we should feel comfortable doing so. He wants to have a relationship with us as our father.

“8And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” — Genesis 3:8-9 (ESV)

Here we see the LORD walking through the garden looking to have a chat with Adam and Eve. He was not just looking to be around them, but to converse and commune with them. This is the relationship the LORD wants with you and me.

We should be addressing the LORD, not for Him to hear us, but for Him to converse with us.

How are you speaking to the LORD? Are you out there speaking at Him in hopes He hears you and takes action? What if you were to address Him and expect a conversation over petition and taking that opportunity to listen to Him as well?

Venting is Okay

“11Therefore I will not restrain my mouth;

I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;

I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.” – Job 7:11 (ESV)

Job is complaining, or more, he is venting.

I know that there are things that are tough to take on. I have things in my life, as we all do, that seemingly work against me daily. I may not have control over those things, but they are impacting me none the less. I have to address them or they will consume me and I will lose my focus on doing the Work of the LORD. Venting will allow me to address those things.

Venting is allowing the challenge to get out there. It is addressing the thing as opposed to dwelling on it. By venting, I am able to let it known that I am bothered and at minimum be able to then move on from it. At maximum, by getting the thing in the open, someone may be willing and/or able to help in addressing the thing to turn it around. Either way, it is healthy to vent as Job is doing above.

Venting is not dwelling on the thing continuously. Once the things has been outed, we are to move on from it. Whether someone is willing and/or able to help in addressing the thing or not, we have said our peace and it is time to move on from it.

It is important to note that venting is allowed with God. He wants us to bring that which troubles us to Him. The LORD listens to our pain and guides us through it. No, He may not always relieve the pain in the moment, but He allows for my voice to be heard and then guides me through the thing by addressing it in His way and time. Venting is okay.

What is your view of “complaining”? Are you allowing the thing to overtake you and be a continued hindrance to you? What if you vented instead by getting it our and allowing the LORD to guide you through it in His way and time?