Children's Magazine Article

[column title:] Truth Pursuer

[title:] Let’s Talk, GOD

by Caroline Kim

Do you ever have trouble talking to God? You can always talk to God —anytime and in any way. But whether you can't seem to find a quiet place or you don't know what to say, prayer and studying God's Word doesn't always come easy. 

Just know you aren't the only one who has trouble knowing how to talk or listen to God. Over the last 2,000 years, Christians have created different practices to stay focused on God. These practices help keep your mind from wandering and provide you with a plan to make the most of your time. 

You don't have to worry about saying something the "right way." The truth of God's Word is spoken in thousands of languages in churches around the world. Many of these believers—and Christians throughout history—have used organized steps to learn Bible verses, grow closer to God and pray.

STEPPING INTO SCRIPTURE

God has always communicated to His people. That has never changed—and will never change. He wants to have a relationship with us and show us who He is. You can use these five steps to talk and listen to Him.

The first step is reading a passage of Scripture. Reading through the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—is a great way to get to know Jesus. Proverbs contains lots of tips for how to live. And the miracles of the Old Testament will inspire you. Choose a Bible verse or short passage and read it three times out loud, very slowly. Hearing God's Word will help you remember it. 

The second step is reflecting and learning. Reflection means to spend time thinking about what you read. 

Find a quiet spot where noise and people won’t bother you. If thoughts about other things pop into your mind, tell yourself you will think about those things later. If you still have lots of thoughts, slowly repeat the verse.

Once you've thought about the verse, find a study Bible and learn more about the passage. Understanding the context and history behind the verse is very important and will help you keep growing in your knowledge of the Bible.

The third step is prayer. Talk to God about the passage you read. Ask Him questions and tell Him your thoughts. Prayer is simply being you. God wants to hear you. He’s not surprised or mad about anything you have to say to Him, so you can always be honest.

The fourth step is contemplation. After giving God everything in your heart and mind by talking to Him in step No. 3, you can now wait, listen and think about God. All you have to do is rest in Him and consider how everything you've learned and thought about relates to Him.

The fifth step is application. Take what you've learned and use it in your life. Maybe you need to forgive your sibling or reach out to the new kid at school. If you aren't sure about what to do, pray and ask a parent or pastor for help.

READY TO TALK

The Bible is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). God is always ready and willing to speak with us through His Word. When we draw close to Him, He promises to draw closer to us (James 4:8). His thoughts towards each of us outnumber all the sands on the seashore (Psalm 139:17-18). 

When we trust God with each thought and feeling, we realize we’re not alone. And it all starts by communicating with Him.

Talking to God may be hard in the beginning. That's OK. The more times you go through the steps, the easier it will be to know what you should do. You're learning how to dig into the truth of the Bible. With time you, you will get more comfortable. Talk to Him about anything that's on your heart and mind. Keep practicing, and know God loves to spend time with you no matter what!

When you spend time with God, He'll start transforming you. These steps are one of the ways you can learn more of God's Word. Whenever you're ready to talk to Him, He's already waiting for you.

[sidebar:] Every Prayer Counts!

God listens to every word you say to Him. One sentence prayers count! You can pray while you're brushing your teeth, eating or walking to class. Make an effort to be aware of His presence seven times today. You can:

- Thank Him.

- Praise Him.

- Sing a song to Him.

- Tell Him your thoughts.

- List His blessings in your life.

- Ask Him a question.

- Say anything that’s on your heart.