“Open your ears, God, to my prayer; don’t pretend you don’t hear me knocking. Come close and whisper your answer. I really need you.” Psalm 55.1
Against the backdrop of our unquenched God thirst, is the experience of our God dialogue we call prayer. No matter who or what your God is, there is some sort of conversation between you and the God. For many, the idea of a God conversation is a variation on a monologue with no audience. Cynics suggest there is no God and our understanding of prayer affirms this doubt. Supporters counter with the argument that God answers every prayer, then struggle to show how this is true except for Santa Claus examples.
David’s honesty and frustration right out on the surface. I need; don’t pretend I am not talking; do something; I need you. I sense David’s expression reflecting the depth of his own understanding about his thirst to know and experience God. I also see this opening statement as one many wish they could express. We are frustrated with God; we are not honest with God. God does not seem to listen; it is as if we are talking to ourselves and nobody else is home!
David acts on his frustration and gives us a model to follow. David realizes his prayer, his confession, is a reflection of God’s. Open your ears, David, to my words and acts; do not pretend you cannot see me work love out in your life, do not pretend you cannot hear my voice of assurance. Come close and talk with me. Listen and dialogue. I really need you.
I need God. God needs me. If I want God to listen, I can begin by listening to him. If I want to experience love and acceptance, a starting point is to let God show me how much he loves and accepts me. If I want to know the meaning of grace, I can look around and discover the God touches to the lives of others and myself.
Dialogue is two-way. God is listening, are we?
