Reverse Psychology (If I do this then maybe...)
Hello beautiful people! As I'm writing this, it is currently Tuesday morning and sunny England has quickly turned to cold, cloudy England.
I hope you are all having a good day/afternoon/night. Here is an encouragement that I've had on my heart for a while and as always, I pray it blesses you as you read it. Love you guys xxx
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"If I say this then maybe God will think this...". I don't know about you guys but I had a thought not long ago about how some of my prayers used to sound when I was younger and even in my late teens (writing this as if I'm in my 30s lol). I used to think that if I prayed in a certain way or said certain things, then God would answer me quickly because He thought and could see that I had grown. Basically, I was trying to do reverse psychology on God and thought I was smart! But when I say, I got humbled quick, I got humbled.
When this thought came into my mind during one of my devotional times, it felt like God was sat right next to me and we were reminiscing on how I used to be and He was showing me how far I'd actually come and I was just like, WOW! and it felt like God and I were sat laughing together. This then got me thinking of how we sometimes used to pray and say what we thought God wanted to hear, fully knowing He wants to hear our hearts, but saying otherwise and hoping He would believe us.
BUT! God said...
And I just felt God was helping me realise just how draining it was and exhausting it actually is. We can't lie to God. And yes, I know we know this but does our actions match our speech if we are truly honest with ourselves? So, I say all this to say, just tell God how you feel. That is what He actually cares about. He cares about the scared/vulnerable/tired/happy true you. That is what He wants to work with if you invite Him in.
I want to point out as well that this is a good thing to do but also spend some time reflecting and just thanking God for what He has done in your life. I was talking to one of my close friends and sister and one thing she said to me was, "learn to slow down". When you are getting worked up and stressed, slow down and reflect and ask God to show you the times He has worked in your life (and that is all the time). Now this doesn't mean that I or you might not need to slow down again and reflect because sometimes our emotions are a bit too quick for our emotions, but in the slowing down and reflection time, I was able to see God's hands throughout my life and circumstances and it gives me hope and an unexplainable peace, like it says in Philippians 4:7, that my God has got my back. He is that friend that would die in our place and He did exactly that. He is our literal "ride or die" (for lack of a better term). So, let's learn together to see God as a friend. He is a mighty God and everything we know God as, but He is also a friend. A friend that would love a relationship with you and to have conversations with you. True, open conversations. Let Him in. The same way, we can dress and talk casually to our friends, is the same way we can approach God - exactly as we are.
Bottom line: Reverse psychology doesn't work on God.
I pray this encourages us and challenges us to make this a habit until it becomes a fibre of our being. If we fall, that's fine! But let's make sure we do not stay there.. together.
Love you all xxx