Do you pray about it as much as you talk about it? (Devo #37)

Do you pray about it as much as you talk about it?

This question still shakes me to my core.

Back when I lived in Europe, I remember how dramatic I was. Everything that would happen in my life felt like such a grand ordeal. And all of my close Swedish friends would tell me that when I would talk to them about my problems, that it was like a soap opera of dramatic entertainment. That I encompassed “drama”.

I don’t know if that’s because of my theatrical personality or my flare for all things dramatic, but then I saw this question floating around on the internet one day.

Do you talk about it more than you pray about it?

I was so guilty. I would call my mother, or tell a bunch of my friends what I was going through. I would keep talking about my issues, around and around, thinking that it would help.

Sometimes it would. Sometimes a friend would say exactly what I needed to hear. Sometimes I would solve my problem just by talking through it.

But I realized that I was talking about my problems far more than I prayed about them. No wonder it took me forever to overcome anything. All I did was talk about my issues.

I had a heart issue.

And what we talk about the most, that’s what our heart is full of.

Luke 6:45 For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Matthew 12:34 For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

The Bible tells us that whatever is in our hearts, that is what we end up talking about most.

All along, I needed to deal with my heart. I needed to go to God. I needed to give Him my heart and my struggles, that way they weren’t overwhelming my heart. To the point of exacerbating my problems and amplifying them verbally.

Maybe all you can talk about is your weight problems, that what your heart is full of. Maybe you all you can talk about is how you hate the government, that is what your heart is full of. Maybe all you can talk about is your kids, that is what your heart is full of. Maybe all you can talk about is the goodness of God, that is what your heart is full of.

When I give God my problems and spend time with Him, I find that He is the thing I talk about the most. I can’t help it! Because out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

Sometimes it is good to talk to a trusted friend or family member, because God also uses people to speak into our lives. But we do not need to talk about it constantly or all the time, because that it when it has become a heart issue.

So how do you know if you have a heart issue? Well, what do you talk about the most?

I want to be known as someone who prays about her problems more than she complains about them. I don’t want to mope around. I don’t want to be dramatic. I don’t want to talk about my issues with everybody all the time. I want to deal with them. And the best way to deal with them, is to pray about them and surrender them.

Can you imagine who you would be if you stopped complaining about things in your life and actually prayed about them every time you felt overwhelmed? Your heart would no longer be burdened. You would always have peace because you know that you’ve handed it over to Jesus and that is where your hope is found.

So, do you talk about it more than you pray about it?

Response Questions
1. Do you talk about your problems more than you pray about them?
2. What do you tend to talk about the most when talking with friends or family?
3. Is there anybody you shouldn’t be talking to about all your problems?
3. Are you willing to pray about your problems more than you talk about them?

Pray with me!
Father God, forgive me for talking about things more than I pray about them. I want to go to you for advice and comfort over everybody else. Help me to surrender everything to you and give you my heart daily. I want to be known as a person who can’t stop talking about you.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

Need prayer?