Specificity with God

Last updated on: September 20, 2012 at 12:11 pm by Susan Cottrell

Specificity with God 2012-09-20T12:11:45-05:00 Susan Cottrell

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

My family knows me for my prayer life — talking to God in the kitchen or walking through the house. I enjoy the ongoing relationship I have with Him that way. But recently God pulled the floor out from under me: He said, Pray specifically. My habit has been to praise Him, thank Him for what’s going on in my day, ask for His guidance in my family.

But He told me that when I get specific with Him, it deepens the relationship. It puts my heart on the line. For example, I typically thank Him for the amazing life He’s given me, for my family, for how He has provided so lovingly for us these many years. While these prayers are beautiful, I can say them with little thought–and with no risk. I’ve considered this to be “praying without ceasing,” I Thessalonians 5:17. But I can easily totter into what Jesus warned against: “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.” Matthew 6:7. I wasn’t quite babbling, but close.

My reluctance to specific prayer has been that I don’t want to tell God what to do. He’s not here to answer my to-do list. Instead, God invites me to be fully present when I pray. To ask for specific leading in my son’s new marriage, or to thank Him for my other son’s job, or to let tears fall as I remember a sweet incident when I was seven–something too personal to write here. I ask God to remind my daughter that He is her first love, in case she’s forgotten. I hear myself say, “Lord, I pray specifically…” and we smile together, because He knows I am responding to Him.

When I ask Him to speak directly into my husband’s current circumstance, to return my sister’s heart to Him, to become undeniably real in the child’s life–this requires pouring my heart out to Him. Yes, that’s it. He wants my specifically focused, fully present heart, poured out to Him. Ah. I want that too! Nothing could be sweeter.

Previous Post

September 18, 2012

Got a Date!

Next Post

September 26, 2012 Prayer, prayer, prayer

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Church & Religion Dear Susan Family Support Gay Weddings & Marriage GCN Conference Jesus Blog LGBTQ Support Parenting Personal Stories Suicide The Real Jesus Theology Transgender Uncategorized X Archived Posts

Select a Month August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 June 2022 December 2021 May 2021 February 2021 November 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 May 2019 March 2019 January 2019 November 2018 March 2018 January 2018 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the small, portable cross worn as a sign of faith and blessing called?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Chalice Crucifix Tabernacle Mitre

Support this
Column