Pleading My Case to God

Today’s scripture: Psalm 5 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?

My thoughts (David Zier):

In our SoulShift course Discipleship 101, we talk about prayer as conversation and use a film clip from the movie, The Disciple, starring Robert DuVal. The scene we use is where the main character, Sonny, loses his wife and then the church he pastors, and he goes to God yelling about all that was going wrong.

The beginning of Psalm 5 reminds me of that scene:

Give ear to my words, O Lord; give heed to my sighing. Listen to the sound of my cry, my God, for to you I pray. O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.

Click on the film clip below to watch the scene.

Could you see yourself praying this way?

When I was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1993, I let out a burst to God when we got back to the car, “Why did you let this happen to me?” I said it more out of frustration than blaming God. Prayer is not just about the nice days, or the feel good moments. God wants all of us, completely, no matter where it is we may find ourselves.

Psalm 5 is an example of how we can go to God no matter the state of our mind, and just speak our feelings and and let it out. Maybe I am not feeling so good about God or others in that particular moment. Prayer is not about putting on heirs, or pretending, or acting like God doesn’t know what’s going on in our lives. Sonny shows us how we can talk to God in the moment no matter where we may be. Do you think you could pray this way; like a Psalm? Why not give it a try.

Thought for the day: When you are having a “Sonny” day, talk to God and let God know how you feel, and pray the hurt and frustration you feel. God wants to hear it. God wants to be with you through it.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.