Friday, May 5, 2023
In sixth grade, my class was learning Latin as our foreign language. One day, my teacher asked, “How are you?” in Latin, and everyone gave their reply. I was not having a great day, so I said I was “so-so.” When we finished, my teacher said in English, “Thank you to everyone who said they were feeling great today. When people ask ‘how are you,’ they don’t want to hear you complain. They want to hear that you are doing well.” I remember feeling shocked by what my teacher had said.
Is that really what people want?
Sometimes, we live as though God just wants to hear that we are really great. We pretend to be cheerful and happy, keeping our complaints and frustrations tucked neatly away. However, God can see everything, even our deepest, darkest secrets. Is he disappointed in us? Does he shake his head every time we mess up or have a bad day? Maybe he’s tired of our neediness and mistakes and wants us to act as if everything is fine.
1 John 1:8-9
8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
God loves us so much he wants us to be honest with him. He longs to hear about our good, bad, and so-so days. He wants us to tell him about the temptations we face and the successes we celebrate. He wants to listen, to forgive, and cleanse us from all the things that are holding us back.
God knows everything, and still, he enjoys listening to us. Unlike some stranger asking, “how are you?” God is like a parent, listening to their child explain every detail about a movie they watched together. The parent listens because they love their child, just as God loves us.
Being honest with God leads to freedom, peace, and everlasting life. Do you see his eyes light up as you get to the punch line? Do you feel him hug you through your tears? Do you experience his love as he points you back to him?
Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Questions:
How are you today? Have you told God about your feelings or about the exciting and stressful things that have been going on? Are you afraid of being honest with God?
Next Steps:
Tell God about your day. Talk to him about what you are afraid of, what you are celebrating, what secret thoughts and choices you have made. Ask questions, and listen for the Spirit to prompt you. Read Psalm 139 to hear what God thinks of you.
Join a Group. James 5:16 says that when we confess our sins to each other, we can be healed.
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Prayer:
Father, I know I can be honest with you. Right now, I want to tell you about (fill in the blank). Thank you for listening. Thank you for meeting me where I am. Thank you for understanding me. I love you. Amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Philippians 2:13
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.