Ephphatha — In the beginning
Just start
You don’t have to sound nice
Say what’s really there
Lord, I’m angry
I’m so tired
I’m ashamed
Exposing
Show everything
Even the shit you hide from everyone else
God has a thick skin
He can take it
Chaos
It’s allowed to be chaotic
Your thoughts don’t have to be tidy
God can handle your battlefield
Darkness
Bring the dark stuff too
The ugly thoughts, the envy, the revenge fantasies
I don’t want to admit it, but I do it anyway
Honesty
No religious bullshit
Say it like it is
Even if it sounds ugly
That can be where freedom begins
Freedom
Honesty opens a space where freedom can begin
In Christ, confession does not lead into condemnation
What comes into the light can begin to heal
Even when I can’t believe it
Prayer as conversation
It’s not a monologue
After you pour it out, you may leave room for silence
Even though I usually just want to keep talking
Heart
It’s about your heart, not your words
God sees the heart
Even when I’d rather hide it
Now
You don’t have to wait until you’re "better"
Now is the right moment
Even when I feel completely unworthy
Letting go
After you pour it out, you’re allowed to let go
Not everything has to be solved right away
Even though I’d rather control everything
Courage
It takes courage to be honest
God does not despise a broken, honest heart
Even when I feel like a coward
No polishing
Don’t try to make it sound nice
God sees through everything
Even though I’d love to do exactly that
Openness
Openness is an important key
A closed heart does not make God deaf
It holds back what needs to be spoken
Even though I’d rather lock mine
Personal
It’s about your relationship with God
Not general prayers
Even though I often just repeat formulas
Silence
After you pour it out, you may grow still before God
Not to force an answer, and not to demand one now
Even though I’d rather keep talking
Repentance
Where you recognise what is wrong
Repentance may follow
But without self-destruction
Even though I’d rather beat myself up
Shame
You may bring shame into the light
It does not have to rule you
Even though I’d rather hide it forever
Tears
Tears are allowed
They’re often the most honest language
Even though I’d rather swallow them
Imperfection
You don’t have to be perfect
God works with imperfect people
Even though I’d rather forget that
Trust
In the end, a small trust that He sees and holds it
Even when I see nothing at all
Truth
Truth opens, hiding keeps the door closed
Even when the truth hurts like hell
Yes
A small, honest "Yes, this is me", that can open a lot
Even though I’d rather not admit it
Alex · Quellenbeziehungen