Enlighten: Talking To God For Guidance And Empowerment

Talking to God entails a highly spiritual, personal, and often private relationship. Although God is aware of our every thought and intention, He desires that we be close to Him and “hear His heart as well as His voice.”

It is not enough to acknowledge God in our lives; we must also be deeply and meaningfully connected to Him. By praying to God and reading his written word, we remind ourselves that no matter what happens, He is the answer.

What Does The Bible Say About Talking To God?

Our father desires a personal relationship with us. He is aware, present, and compassionately involved in every detail of who we are. 1 John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

Psalms 34:18 says, “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Our almighty God understands our feelings and knows what we are going through. When we call on Him, God helps us bear the burden of sorrow.

Psalm 145:18–19: “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.” The more we allow the word of God to influence our hearts and minds, the more we can pray according to God’s nature[1] and will.

When we pray in this manner, we will not only find that God answers our prayers positively, but we will also sense God’s presence in our lives. He will become “close” to us as we focus on his truth and develop a deeper relationship with him. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

Is It Possible To Talk With God?

It is possible for human beings to talk to God. The Bible has records of God speaking audibly to people many times (Exodus 3:14; Joshua 1:1; Judges 6:18; 1 Samuel 3:11; 2 Samuel 2:1; Job 40:1; Isaiah 7:3; Jeremiah 1:7; Acts 8:26; 9:15). Because Jesus Christ has removed the barrier between us and God—a barrier caused by our sins—that is why we can talk to and approach God, especially in prayer.

The Bible also contains detailed instructions on how to pray to God about our sorrows, for mercy and forgiveness, and to develop a warm, personal relationship. The Bible also demonstrates that God communicates with us through His word. When we trust in Christ for salvation, God allows us to communicate with him at any time through Jesus. “Call to me, and I will answer you” (Jeremiah 33:3).

Is Talking To God The Same As Praying?

Prayer is a dialogue, not a monologue. When we pray, we are communing with the Father and fellowshipping with Him. We may be thanking Him and praying for salvation, and then we may begin worshiping Him, or we may remain silent and try to hear what He has to say.

“Never stop praying,” God says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, which means we should always speak to our one true God in our everyday lives, in silence, in our hearts, or aloud, anytime and anywhere. After all, God is present in everything we encounter.

Praying is not just talking to God; it is also the beginning of a relationship with him. As in any relationship, communication and love play an important role. It’s how we get closer to Him. According to the Bible, when we are close to God, He grants us the desires of our hearts. Prayer is more than just asking God for things and talking to him; it is also listening to him.

How To Talk To God?

We already know it is possible to talk to God, but how do we talk to God? In Matthew 6:9–13, Jesus tells us how to pray when he gives us the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer provides a structure for prayer, which starts with acknowledging the sovereignty of God. However, the Lord’s Prayer offers a few other hints about the “how” of talking to God.

1. Remember, the God you are praying to now is the same God you have always known—the God who created the earth. “Give us our daily bread today,” a request as well as a reminder of what the Lord did for Israel when they crossed the Red Sea. The Lord fed his people daily, not only physically but also spiritually.
2. Put the flesh to death (Galatians 5:24). Your flesh desires to infect prayer with sin, causing divisiveness between you and God. Following “daily bread” with “forgive us our debts” implies prudence because we want more than we need and will sin to obtain it.
3. Ask what to pray for. Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” We need the Lord’s peace, forgiveness, and the ability to see others with mercy and grace. The Lord will answer prayers.
4. Recognize the gift you already possess. “Rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). Believers have been forgiven, allowing us to approach God. We all desire to be in heaven; therefore, we should be jubilant to know that we already have a place there.
5. Forgive others. When we harbor unforgiveness, it is like a closed door between God and us; we cannot communicate with him. “If you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses,” Jesus warned (Matthew 6:15). Our Savior died for all of our sins. We must also forgive others in the same way. If forgiveness is difficult for us, we can pray to God for the strength to do so. He won’t break a bruised reed.

How To Talk To God About Your Problems?

We can be confident that God wants to hear about our problems because the apostle Peter instructs us to “cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). There are multiple instances in the Bible of people sharing their problems with God and seeking His assistance. Many of these heartfelt prayers are recorded in the book of Psalms.

Problems from other people: “LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, ‘There is no help for him in God.’ Selah. But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory, and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the LORD with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill” (Psalm 3:1–4).

Problems with sickness and health trials: “Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled; but You, O LORD—how long?” (Psalm 6:2-3).

Problems with “the shadow of death”: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

Problems with sin and guilt: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1-2).

How Can We Hear And Listen To God?

We will hear directly from God if we are willing and humble enough to listen. We may not hear God’s voice or receive a message in a dream, but He is always present in creation, in His word, in answered prayers, and in miracles.

To hear and listen to God, we must be deliberate in our focus, which means that our time and calendar must reflect our heart’s desire. This entails having a regular time each day to spend alone in a quiet spot with God. To hear God, we must be tuned into the right frequency and have the proper state of our hearts.

We must listen with an open mind and heart. According to the Bible, we will find Him if we seek Him with all of our hearts. This means being open and receptive to God’s guidance and instruction and being willing to obey.

Through God’s word, creation, and character, the Holy Spirit helps translate our prayers to God and reveals our breakthroughs. We become open to God’s good, perfect, and just will when we strain to see beyond our way and how we believe God should answer our prayers.

We must trust that God has a personal message for our provision, protection, and purpose. We must be aware that God loves us and is the only one who can guide and sustain us. Putting our trust in him demonstrates a listening and willing heart and reflects our love for him.

2 Ways To Communicate With God

We often want to talk to God, but we are uncertain about how to do it. One way to talk to God is through prayer. One of the most popular methods and acronyms for guiding us in praying is ACTS: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. Adoration purifies our hearts by praising God for who He is.

Confession expresses what Christ has done. Our confessed sins are forgiven as a result of salvation (1 John 1:9). Thanksgiving shifts our hearts toward thankfulness (as we grow with Christ, even our trials begin to make it onto this list). Supplication represents our requests for assistance, healing, blessing, and more.

Another way to talk to God is through journaling. Make a special place for quiet times with God. Couple prayer journaling with daily devotional readings of Scripture to complete the conversation.

God’s word appears in a timely manner to address our prayer concerns. Sometimes it happens right away, and sometimes it takes time. Those breakthrough moments are the incredible miracles that strengthen our faith and make us want to spend more time with Him.

7 Tips To Make Your Prayer Time Better

1. Talk to God as if he were your best friend. You can trust God and talk to him about anything without fear of judgment, just like a true best friend would. You can run to him and tell him everything; he is your best friend. He is always available to listen to you, regardless of the time or situation.
2. Get physically comfortable. While it is appropriate to kneel when praying, it is not always necessary. You must relax mentally and physically to stay focused on your intentions toward God. When you are exhausted and unable to get out of bed to pray, pray to God while lying down. He understands your heart and desire and will accept whatever prayer position you choose. He’d rather let you pray than skip it because you can’t get on the floor.
3. Make a list ahead of time. When our minds are jumbled, thinking of anything to say when we pray can be challenging. If that’s the case, try making a list beforehand. This relieves the pressure of remembering everything you want to pray for, allowing you to enjoy the conversation and feel His love.
4. Remember to listen. How often do you pause to listen to what God is saying to you? We sometimes lose sight of the fact that this is a two-way conversation. He enjoys listening to you, but He is also available to assist you and provide answers. When you ask for something, take a breath and listen.
5. Pray frequently. The more you pray, the more natural it will appear, and the more you want to pray. Prayer should not be regarded as a “chore” but as genuine communication with God.
6. Read the Bible for answers. Praying may be difficult for you because you do not feel like you are receiving answers. If that is the case, read the Word of God. God will sometimes answer our prayers through the verses we read. Prayer and scripture study go hand in hand.
7. Believe that God will answer you. God is trustworthy even when you don’t see your prayers answered or problems solved immediately. You may think, “God didn’t help me last time, so why would He help me this time?” Don’t ask for anything in your prayer unless you truly believe God will answer you. According to the Bible, God always keeps His promises. He cares about you and has good things in store for you.

Conclusion

Recognizing God in our lives isn’t enough; we also need to build a strong relationship with Him through prayer and reading His word. It is essential to talk to God in our hearts and minds, whether we pray aloud or silently.

We can talk to Him about what is happening inside us—good and bad. God loves us and is always eager to hear from us; however, we will hear directly from God if we are willing and humble enough to listen.