Closer to Christ – How to Say It

Closer to Christ

How to Say It

In “Closer to Christ”, Lesson 1, we learned “What to Say to God”. In Lesson 2, we are going to learn, “How to Say It”. In other words, your attitudes when speaking to God are really important in getting closer to Him.

We are going to learn “four attitudes for prayer” in this lesson. Each one will show us how to speak to God. We should use these attitudes when praying for anything in the 5 areas that we studied in Lesson one.

Have you ever tried teaching a young baby a song and when they tried to sing it, they got stuck, and kept singing the same few beginning words over and over and over again?

What happened there?

Little kids sometimes get stuck on the same line over and over.

How do you feel when that happens? Most of the time, we are annoyed.

Parents love all the sounds their children make, and they even think it is cute when a toddler gets stuck on a line. They may shake their heads and smile or they may help their toddler along to the next lyric.  However, it is background noise.

But they are not responding in the same way as when they hear their toddler cry out. Or when that toddler asks a question. Or when that toddler needs something and calls their name.

Here is the thing: We do not want our prayers sounding to God like background noise! 

Sometimes when people pray, they sound like toddlers getting stuck on a line.

Say the following quickly without really thinking that deeply:

Our-Father-who-art-in-heaven-hollowed-be-thy-name-thy-kingdom- come-thy-will-be-done-on-earth-as-it-is-in-heaven

Or how about this:

Now-I-lay-me-down-to-sleep-I-pray-the-Lord-my-soul-to-keep

Or:

God-is-great-God-is-good-let-us-thank-Him-for-our-food

Is Jesus pleased when we “get stuck” praying the same thing over and over again? To find the answer, read what He said to His disciples and the people;

(Matthew 6:7), And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

When we pray, what is God more interested in? The words that we are saying, or something else? To find the answer, read the following:

(1 Samuel 16:7), For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

People look at the outside of each other, but God is more interested and could see directly what is in a person’s heart.

If you do not speak to God sincerely from your heart, He knows this. So, in this lesson, let’s talk about how to speak to God, and not just be making background noise.

In this lesson, we are going to look at 4 attitudes that God would be pleased with when talking to Him in our prayers. Again, we are just trying to be an encouragement and actually see from the Scriptures what our Lord is hoping for, when we communicate with Him. 

Passion

What does “passion” mean?

• It means being highly excited or having great zeal.

Passion begins with caring. 

Pray for the things you really care about.

Or find a thought that makes you care about something, and then pray about it.

When praying, a good way to avoid your prayer becoming something you are saying just for the sake of saying something, recall things in your mind and heart that you have a genuine concern and passion about. 

Honesty

You can tell God when you are angry. You can tell Him when you are really, really frustrated.

You can tell Him when you’re afraid, when you’re hurt. You can tell Him when you’re embarrassed, sorry, or unsure.

If you are new at speaking to God and it feels really strange, you can tell Him that!

Tell Him the whole thing! Tell Him like you would tell a close relative or a really good friend. Because eventually, you will start hearing back from God. It won’t be by an audible voice, but ways that you will recognize that we will talk about in our future lessons. Your honesty is important in properly communicating with God.

The Book of Psalms are prayers put to music. You could see how David was very honest with God with whatever he was going through at that particular time when he was talking to God. Spend some time reading some of the Psalms. It will teach you and help you to open up to God and pour out all your feelings and emotions, joys and sadness, fears and confusion. Psalms will teach you to be transparent before God in your own mind and heart because in reality, God can see everything about you anyways. He just wants you to see it, so that you know He wants you to come to Him at any time and for whatever reason.

Faith

Do you want to ask God for something really important to you? Do you need protection? Do you want to improve at something? Do you need a material item?

When you pray and ask God for something, do you think that He will answer your prayer if you doubt that He will answer it?

To find the answer, see the following verse;

(Hebrews 11:6), But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

You have to sincerely believe in your heart that He really, really does EXIST.

You have to sincerely believe in your heart that He REWARDS those who earnestly seek Him.

God may say “yes”, or He may say “no.” He may say “wait a little while.” But you have to have the faith that He is seriously considering any sincere requests. Remember, our Heavenly Father knows what’s best for us. That is why we must always pray after the same manner that Jesus taught us just before He was about to be crucified.

To see this, read the following verse;

(Luke 22:42), saying, Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.

Many people get discouraged praying because they fail to realize that sometimes when we ask for things, they may cause us more hurt in the future. They fail to realize that God has a much bigger purpose and plan for their life and for those that they are praying for. 

Another reason why people lose faith in praying is because, they quickly forget how God answered their prayers in the past.

Respect

We can tell God anything. That is honesty. But we want to remember Who He Is! That is called respect.

You can speak to God like a friend. You just don’t want to forget which friend this is.

He created the universe. When the world would not listen to the prophets He sent, God then sent His only Son.  They killed Him also. And He still reaches out in love to us. This is THE most special friend you will ever have. Speak to Him with RESPECT.

Read the following verse and feel the RESPECT!

(Exodus 3:1-6), Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father–the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.

Now read;

Matthew 11:28-30, Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

God wants you to come to Him and dive into His love and comfort as your Best Friend, but He never wants you to forget Who He really is and the RESPECT that we are always to give Him.

He Is Your Best Friend!

But yet, we RESPECT Him!

We have an awesome God!  Speak to Him with, PASSION, HONESTY, FAITH, and RESPECT. Then you can be sure He hears you as often as you speak!

Once again, an inspiring way to see how this was done, is by looking at the way David communicated to God through the following Psalms. 

Passion

(Psalm 119:97), Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.

(Psalm 42:1-4), As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, “Where is your God?” When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.

Honesty

(Psalm 119:119-120), You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross; Therefore I love Your testimonies. My flesh trembles for fear of You, And I am afraid of Your judgments.

(Psalm 38:18), For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin.

Faith

(Psalm 56:3-11), Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?… When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me. In God (I will praise His word), In the Lord (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

(Psalm 57:1-2), Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me.

Respect

(Psalm 57:9-11), I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.

Closer to Christ Worksheet

Write out a Prayer below using the 4 attitudes we just studied. Picture yourself in Gods’ throne room, experiencing the awe of His presence and willingness to communicate with you!

• Tell God something PASSIONATE. It can be positive or negative. As long as you feel strongly about it:
• Tell God something HONEST that is bothering you. It should be your true feelings, even if they are not perfect:
• Tell God something you have FAITH for. Tell Him in a way that you trust Him or want to trust Him more:
• Tell God about something that is making you really mad or frustrated. Tell Him in a way that is RESPECTFUL.