Prepare Your Heart To Talk To God

by Robert Pedersen

Proverbs 4:23
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (KJV)

 

As we examine our hearts we will discover beliefs that do not serve us.  These are the obstacles that are blocking us from receiving what we desire.

When we desire to communicate with God and it feels like nothing works then it’s time to do a little heart searching.  When we do, we’ll find some thought, idea or belief about God that is holding our heart captive and preventing deep communication with God.

The first belief or idea we’ll explore is:

“I don’t deserve to communicate with God.”

 Another way to state this belief is “I’m not worthy”.  Feelings of being unworthy and undeserving go hand in hand.  When we feel unworthy then we also feel that we don’t deserve.

Human beings are often plagued with feelings and beliefs of unworthiness.  We have this sense that there is something wrong with us or there is some intrinsic lack that makes us unworthy.

Most Christians believe that worthiness comes to us through acceptance of Jesus Christ.   In many cases this is an intellectual belief based on teachings from The Bible.

Underneath that intellectual belief the very strong sense, feeling or fear that we’re unworthy and undeserving lives on.  This deep sense of unworthiness is driven by what we’ll call a “core” belief.

Core beliefs render all intellectual ideas and beliefs powerless and so there’s a constant struggle going on where you are trying  to believe you are worthy through Jesus (intellectual belief) and feeling unworthy and undeserving (core belief).

Let’s look at what the Bible says about faith for a minute.

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (NIV)

Faith deals in the realm of things which are hoped for and unseen.  Those things are found in each individuals heart – right?  We may sort them out with our head but we hold them in our heart!  Often the content of our heart is hidden from others and perhaps even from ourselves – kept secret, rarely exposed.

The scripture I quoted mentions being certain.  Certainty is found in the head – it’s an intellectual position that is bolstered with the hope in our heart.  When what is in the heart and head agree you have a powerful combination.

James puts it like this:

James 1:6-8

6  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

7  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;

8  he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. (NIV)

When our heart and head do not agree we’re double-minded – unstable, doubting – in a state that can’t receive anything from God much less communicate effectively with God.  It’s like we’re hoping to receive something from God but we’re uncertain that it would or could happen.  Perhaps in our heart we hope for communication from God but we’ve never observed anyone communicating with God and our mind tells us it’s impossible.  That’s just one example of many and it could be different for every person.

Faith is having agreement between our core beliefs and intellectual beliefs – another way to say it – our heart and head agree.

Jesus often said to people “According to your faith be it unto you”.

 If your faith or belief is that you don’t deserve to communicate with God, then according to your faith be it unto you.  If you have an element of belief but elements of doubt then that instability will prevent you from receiving what you really want from God.

If your faith won’t permit it, God can’t do it for you.  It’s as simple as that.

When you find yourself plagued with doubts and fears around your relationship with God, examine your head and heart beliefs.

This process will enable you to compare the two – checking to see if there is agreement.

If there is a lack of agreement then an adjustment is required to gain clarity and peace in your relationship with God.

 Scripture reference:

Hebrews 4:14-16

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are yet was without sin.

16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.(NIV)

The KJV (King James Version) says “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace…..etc.”

While we often struggle with feeling that we’re not worthy, Paul recommends boldness and confidence when we approach the throne of grace.

Christ as our example demonstrated boldness with the requests he made of the Father.

In the state of feeling undeserving and unworthy, we cannot have boldness and confidence.

By examining your head and heart beliefs about God and your relationship with Him you may discover some ideas in your mind that don’t agree with what your heart tells you about God.  As you work through these disagreements trust your heart.  (Remember that’s where God dwells)  As you do so your confidence toward God your Father will grow.

So start walking the path toward confidence with God!  Approach God’s throne with boldness, humility and gratitude!

As a child of God, it is your birthright to communicate with God!