Honest Prayer

Gimli is so expressive of his feelings! We always know how he's feeling at any moment because he lets us know! When he's mad, he gruffs, goes to his crate and sulks. When he's excited, he has this totally different gruff- his excited gruff- and wags his tail, jumps up on us and gives us kisses. When he's mad at Virginia, he nips at her neck and wrestles her out of the way. I've even seen him get embarrassed, and he hangs his head and tries to play it cool! Hilarious!

I love how honest Gimli is about his feelings. It's not always the best thing to be totally open with our feelings to other people. But the amazing thing about God is that we can be completely honest with Him! We can tell Him every thought that enters our mind, even if its embarrassing, because, well, He already knows it! He knows what we're thinking and feeling & understands why even when we don't. One of my most treasured times with the Lord in my whole life was the first time I was truly honest with Him. I was in college and experienced an unexpected and major disappointment. I laid in my bed sobbing and praying, and somewhere from the depths of my heart that I didn't even know was there, I said to God, "I feel like you were unfaithful to me!" Immediately, I felt terror- "Oh my gosh, I just told God He was unfaithful!" I waited for lightning to strike me for what I perceived as a sinful thought, but instead I felt an overwhelming rush of peace and comfort. I felt like God was actually hugging me! He said, "I already knew you felt that way. It's okay to tell me! I love you!"  Since that day, I have found it incredibly freeing to talk to God about all of my thoughts and feelings, even if I know they are rooted in sin. When I bring them before the Lord, I find that my heart about the situation changes, and He gives me new perspective and helps me know how to respond.

Gimli doesn't have to be afraid of showing us his true feelings because we will love him, accept him and take care of him no matter how he behaves. Jesus has made it possible through His sacrifice for those who have accepted Him to approach God with confidence also, knowing we will always be accepted. What an incredible gift! Why wouldn't we bring every thought, feeling, concern, joy, or pain to His feet?

Hebrews 4:14-16: "So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."