Have you ever been hesitant to pray because you don’t feel like you deserve God’s help in that moment? It is a moment where you are in a bind and you need God to come through, but the reason you’re in a bind is because of your own sin, your own negligence, it’s your fault.
Perhaps you have jumped back into a sin and now you’re in a terrible situation and need God to deliver you. Perhaps you have not been faithful to God in your finances and you’re in a financial bind and need God to rescue you.
You are in this moment and you want to pray, you know you should pray, but you have no real expectation that God is going to answer your prayers. After all, you got yourself in this mess and now you just have to deal with it, right?
If you want to know one of the things that makes God so incredible is that his nature is not vindictive, but restorative. So even if you are in a mess that you created, it is now and has always been God’s desire to restore you to himself, to deliver you out of your mess.
I have kids and I can tell you that, even when they are strong-willed and frustrating, the moment they come and ask for help, it doesn’t matter what they’ve done, I help them. It’s because I love them and when they come to me with their little repentant hearts, I can’t resist. God is the same way. Psalm 51:17 tells us, “A broken heart and a contrite spirit you have yet to despise.” He wants you to come to him, but there’s a way you should do it.
- Confess your wrongs – tell God what you did, why you are in your mess.
- Repent for your wrongs – don’t do it again. Not that, “I promise not to do that again but full well knowing I will,” but a turning away from the sin.
- Ask for Mercy – you may have to endure discipline, but God is merciful. (P.S., discipline means he loves you).
- Ask for help – tell him what you need and ask him for wisdom and guidance, not just a blank check.
- Follow through – when he speaks, do it. God wants to help, but your obedience and trust is essential.
Satan wants you to think God is mad at you and will not help you. That is a lie. God loves you and wants the best for you. The proof is in what he was willing to give for you. Don’t ever be afraid to go to God with anything, no matter how sinful you are. You can’t clean yourself up enough to be good enough. Let God do that. Trust him. Pray. And then watch as God changes your heart and your life.
Philippians 4:6-7 NLT “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Be blessed,
J