This month, we talking about talking with God (commonly known as praying). Today, Rich Dixon keeps us thinking about that.

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“I don’t know how that works.”

My friend Dr. Dick Foth says it a lot. Foth is one of the wisest, smartest people I know. It’s not false modesty, just his way of acknowledging the mystery and wonder of following Jesus.

I used to think “I don’t know” meant weakness. I thought everything had to be explained, even if the explanation was human-created. Now I find comfort in knowing God is bigger than my mind.

So I study and do what I can to understand revelation. And I worship what is beyond anything I can possibly imagine. I do my best to resist the temptation to fill the gaps with my own inventions.

That’s how I understand prayer. I know a little, but mostly it’s a mystery.

I know it’s a conversation. I know Jesus did it a lot and left us some examples. I think His conversations with God were different than mine, yet very much the same.

He knows my needs before I ask, but asking matters. I know my prayers don’t change God, but I believe prayer can change things.

Fancy words don’t matter, because the Holy Spirit intercedes when my words don’t make sense. He already knows my thoughts, but somehow sharing them matters.

I don’t know how that works.

I can open an intimate, one-on-one line of communication with I AM who was, is, and always will be. He’ll always listen.

And He’ll always respond, but the response probably won’t take the form I expect on my desired timeline. Maybe He’ll nudge, or He might clobber me over the head. Perhaps He’ll speak through circumstances, or the words of a friend, or an unexpected interruption.

I know I need to pay attention with an open heart. I know I can’t understand completely. One day His responses will make perfect sense.

I don’t know how it works, and that’s okay.

He’s God. I’m not.