Do You Want to Talk to GOD?

"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them." Revelation 20:11

¹After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." ²At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.³And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. ⁴Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. ⁵From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. ⁶Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

   In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. ⁷The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. ⁸Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." ⁹Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, ¹⁰the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 
 ¹¹"You are worthy, our Lord and God, 
   to receive glory and honor and power, 
   for you created all things, 
      and by your will they were created 
      and have their being." Revelation 4:1-11

Praying with my kids at night can sometimes be an interesting experience. They can pray the most precious, heart-felt, and profound prayers....or they can just get downright silly. Praying for things like "I pray that my head won't pop off while I'm sleeping." Giggle. Snicker. "I pray that the whole world could be made out of cheese." Snicker. Giggle. I find myself rolling my eyes and grinning and then mindfully asking them, "Who are you talking to?"  They always "get it" and immediately change to an actual prayer.

Beth Moore (through The Beloved Disciple) asked (me) this week if I always remember Who *I'm* praying to. Touché. Do I remember that He is sitting on a throne in heaven? That earth and sky flee from His presence and that he is surrounded by worshipers continually declaring His worthiness?...or am I praying a wishful prayer to fairy in the sky that may or may not respond?

This week, when I need to talk to God, I've been purposefully reminding myself first Who I'm talking too. I picture Him sitting on the throne, so that I don't simply throw a prayer in the air as if it isn't going to be caught.

With my kids....God prompted me to change the simple wording I use with my kids before prayer time...and we've had no silliness this week (well, at least during prayers).  I used to ask my kids, "Do you want to say prayers?" As we've never required our kids to pray (the first step in a prayer being heartfelt is that it isn't forced). This week, I've been asking, "Do you want to talk to God?" A small, simple change - no major lecture or theology lesson. But I firmly believe it requires them to think more about what they are doing before they do it.

Who are you praying to?

  

John: 90 Days with the Beloved Disciple By Beth Moore / B & H Publishing Group Gifted Bible teacher Moore offers an in-depth examination of the Gospel writer who followed Jesus throughout all of his ministry. Thoughtful discussion questions make this devotional edition of her enduring favorite The Beloved Disciple ideal for individual or group use. Features journaling space, deckled page edges, a ribbon marker and a hardcover binding.