God.

Can we call you that? Can we start that way?
Do we have to say, “Dear God” in order for you to hear us?
Or is it “Dear Jesus” or “Dear God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth”?
Do we have to tell you everything we have done wrong before we can ask you for something good?
Do we have to get the words right to get you to do something?

We confess that we’re not sure.
We confess that we want you to do a new thing,
but that scares us.
We confess that we might not want to have to change, that we might not trust you enough to let go of everything we’ve put together. Even though we know that we aren’t very put together.
We confess, right now, that we are pretty scared. Scared of holding on, of letting go, of pushing hard, of pushing too hard. Scared of you.
We confess that we are not like Paul. We don’t want to know you with every ounce of our being.

We confess.

But we know that you want us to know you.

We know that you want to forgive us, that, in fact, you have already forgiven us even before we ask. That, in fact, you, Jesus, came and died and rose to offer that forgiveness, to show how much you want us to know you.

Help us, please, to live as if we are forgiven.
Help us, please, to live as if the God of the Universe wants to talk to us.
Help us, please, to live in whatever that new thing is that you are wanting to do.

Because we’re not doing great in the old thing we are trying to do.

Thanks.

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Isaiah 43:16-21; Philippians 3:4-14

Prayer from “God. We Need You”: A Year of Prayer in a Hospital Chapel.