How To Talk With God

HOW TO TALK WITH GOD

By Bill Cottringer

The other day I text messaged God’s Administrative Assistant to ask him how God would prefer for us to talk with Her. Since he was very well organized, as would be expected for an administrative assistant of the whole universe, he suggested I just ask about what I wanted to know and then he could communicate approval, rejection or clarification on God’s behalf. So that is what I did. I asked ten simple questions about the most important things I wanted to know about how to communicate with God.

1. First question: “Can we do this anywhere, anytime, and anyway?”

Answer: “Sure, unless you are multi-tasking. God likes to know She’s got your full attention. She is big on politeness and respect. Believe it or not God doesn’t short change listening to you. You usually have more time than you think to say a lot, hear a lot, and learn a lot. And it doesn’t matter whether it is night or day, inside or outside, meditative or liturgical, silent or out loud, standing up or lying down, or alone or in a group. Anywhere, anytime and anywhere is just fine as long as you are doing your best and putting your own heart print on the conversation.”

2. Second question: “Do we have to use a ‘mediator?’”

Answer: “Not necessarily, unless of course you don’t really know what you want or can’t say it very clearly and need some help or just want to be ultra respectful. God can read your mind and understand anything you can think even when you can’t speak it, but She really doesn’t want to overuse that ability and would really prefer to hear about your experiences in your own words. And having the humility to ask this particular question is certainly a good thing.”

3. Third Question: Do we always get an answer?

Answer: “Yes, but sometimes you don’t hear the answers or don’t want to hear them. And sometimes your timeframe isn’t quite as quick as God’s.” It is also good to learn that the silence sometimes maybe an answer. And then too, you sometimes get what you are asking for in a way you aren’t expecting, like asking for patience and then finding yourself in a situation that really pushes you to your limits. In other words, be real careful about what you ask for because you will be getting it, sometime, someplace and somehow.”

4. Fourth Question: “Are there any questions that are out of bounds?”

Answer: “Of course not. It’s those ones you are dying to ask that God is dying to answer. So go ahead and ask for God’s sake.” Remember: the one question you don’t ask may be just the one to get the best answer to a lot of other unanswered ones. And one bit of good advice—all the questions and answers aren’t always as serious as you may think; after all God does have a grand sense of humor.”

5. Fifth Question: “Can you do anything to prepare for such a conversation with God?”

Answer: “Soften your heart and talk from there rather than your noisy head. Plus you’ll hear the answers better and won’t have to think about them so hard. Also try to be honest and spontaneous with your conversation; God doesn’t need to hear any more self-centered egotism, dishonesty or strategies; She’s full up on those things. Perhaps the one thing you can do to have better conversations with anyone, including God, is to learn how to really listen better.”

6. Sixth Question: “Should we speak about things in any certain order?”

Answer: “God has a lot of patience and knows you will figure this one out sooner or later, because the sequence you approach things always has a lot to do with the results you get. And if you must know ahead of time, the proper ‘protocol’ it is: First give some thanks about what you already have to appreciate, then ask for blessings for others who have less than you or whose troubles are much greater than yours, and finally you can get to your own needs and concerns.”

7. Seventh Question: “If God already knows my mind and what I need before I do, why do I need to bother asking or saying something?”

Answer: “Just because. Plus it helps you know what you are asking for or trying to say and then the answers can be clearer that way for you to understand better. You often think too many good thoughts and then never carry them out. And something else you should know—you really don’t know as much about what you are thinking as you think you do.”

8. Eighth Question: “How do I go about asking for forgiveness?”

Answer: “Great question, as this if right up there with love, peace, hope and understanding on God’s learning list for humans. It might be a good idea to think about who actually needs the forgiveness and who needs to give it. And also, it always impresses God to be reassured that you know what you are going to change to keep from having to repeat the request for forgiveness in a week or so. God’s patience is unlimited, but that doesn’t mean your chances of being forgiven are. And you never want to let an opportunity to go by to forgive someone else for a wrong they did you. That unfinished business causes a lot of problems.”

9. Ninth Question: “Are there any more ‘ground rules?’”

Answer: “You will learn most of these as you go—like paying attention to the difference between what you think you want and what you actually need, lightening up on your fixed expectations, knowing the importance of good timing, having patience for results, and remaining flexible in interpreting or judging the results. That should pretty well cover it.”

9. Tenth Question: “Is there a question I have forgotten and should be asking?”

Answer: “Here’s a novel idea for you. When things can be okay with less certainty and more tentativeness, then the surprise factor works in your favor. So let’s keep this one open okay?”