Think back with me for a minute to when you were a kid. Do you remember feeling of excitement and anticipation of new discoveries—how everything felt like an adventure? Maybe it was a trip, a new baby brother or sister, or even an unexpected gift. But one thing is for certain; as children, our eyes danced with eagerness and excitement at the thought of something new!
I believe God built an insatiable curiosity into each of us from the very beginning. Imagine Adam and Eve as they walked and talked with God each day. They could ask Him directly about anything they ever wondered about, and in doing so, they increasingly got to know Him better. How exciting it must have been when they put things together for the first time, or added another layer of understanding onto something they already knew. As much as they enjoyed their work in the garden, I believe that special question and answer time with God must have been their favorite time of day.
Of course, that all fell apart when they chose to disobey God. No longer did they have that open access to Him, but had to learn to communicate with Him through prayer, and by listening to The Holy Spirit.
As I think back on my drinking days, I realize that I had tried many times to reach God with my questions, too. But alcohol kept me from hearing Him, since it’s first effect is to numb the frontal lobe of the brain, where our conscious contact with God comes from. No wonder I couldn’t hear Him!
But when I got sober, I still felt alienated and alone. Sure, I was praying, but I was still hanging on to my old conception of a God who was angry and unwilling to forgive me for deliberately walking away from Him.
I’m sure my prayers were mostly selfish. Every time I was in trouble, I’d pray, “God, just get me out of this jam, and I promise I’ll never do that again …” but when He rescued me, I would conveniently forget my promise. I was always asking something for nothing.
Then one day, I met a young man who asked me questions about my God, but after listening to me, he said, “I don’t think your God could keep me sober.” I looked at him, stunned, but he continued, “Do you think that maybe, just maybe, you might have some wrong ideas about God?”
“Oh you don’t understand,” I said, defensively. “I know God. I grew up with morning and evening family worships. I know the God of the Old and New Testament!”
He paused for a moment, then asked, “Well, do you think your God would be too offended if you told Him that you were going to throw everything you think you know about Him out the door and start over?”
I didn’t quite know what to say, but finally answered, “No, I guess not,” to which he quickly retorted, “Then I suggest you might want to try that!”
The stranger turned on his heel and walked out—and I never saw him again.
I stood there for a long moment, wondering what had just taken place. And no matter how I tried, the thought wouldn’t leave me, and a few weeks later, I prayed a sincere prayer that changed my life. “God, I hope I’m not committing the unpardonable sin here, but I need to throw everything I think I know about You out, and start over again. Please show me who You really are!” That’s how I found a loving God. A patient and longsuffering God. The God who watches tenderly over me every night during my defenseless hours. A God who has the most wonderful plan for my life and the patience to work it out.
I’m so grateful to that stranger who challenged me and planted the seed that has grown into a whole new way of thinking and praying.
There’s a well-known prayer used by many in recovery which can help all of us to a deeper understanding of God, and His Word. It’s called the Set Aside Prayer, and here’s a revised version that is sure to be answered by our loving Father. Try it for a while and watch Him smile as He opens new horizons, grants you deeper understanding, and pours out His blessings on you:
“Dear God, please set aside everything I think I know about myself, my fellow man, the Bible, and all spiritual terms—but especially about you, dear God, so that I might have an open mind and a new experience with all these things. Please help me to see the truth. Amen.”
“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.” Psalm 143:10.
