They think they will be heard because of their many words. (Mt. 6:7)
As I was driving to work, I was arguing with some people in my heart. I planned the words I would say in response to their thoughts and arguments. I laid out my own arguments in my mind to make sure they contained no holes.
Then as I pondered some scripture God spoke these verses to me. I could see plainly that I was planning on nothing other than being quick with my mouth. The context in Ecclesiastes is making vows to God. They must be sincere. And yet Jesus expanded these such vow-taking to include all of my speech: "Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.'"
I sought to become quick with my mouth. I used a hasty heart. A hasty heart is an impatient one. My impatience is with other people. I planned to corner them with my mouth. Such impatience and arguing does not only fail when I come before God, it also fails when I talk with other people.
The Lord deepened his warning to me in with another verse. Again, this verse is addressing prayer to God specifically, but it addresses a general mode of thought that Jesus labeled "pagan" or simply "unbelieving." The thought is that my words will save, protect, and bring me a hearing and understanding from God and from others. If I don't take care of myself, no one else will. This is the heart of unbelief, a lack of trust.
Again, this is not only untrue in prayer, it also is untrue with words in general. I feel compelled to say so many things to defend myself or make myself look good, but in the end such a torrent of words actually does the opposite. The plans of my hasty heart become obvious because I stop listening and keep talking. I stop listening to other people in the eagerness to control, manipulate, or please them. I stop listening to myself in the eagerness to defend, justify, and appear good. I stop listening to God in the presumption that I already know what he wants, or in the fear that he may want something other than what I want.
As an encouragement, God placed a longing in my heart. The longing was for him and his words to me. Then he told me something else. He said that the longing I have for him he has for me. It is mutual. My words melted away at this. I saw he also longs for each person in this way. Instead of thinking I will be heard because of my many words, I wondered if I might be heard because of the longing behind my words.
What prayer would reach my Father's ears better than "Abba! Father, always near. Nothing is more special than being in your reality, in your presence!" And similarly, with myself, "I praise God because I am fearfully and wonderfully made! I am the salt of the earth and the light of the world." And with other people, "Let me bring you to Jesus, when you are weary and heavy-laden. He will bring you rest." Not just the words, but the longing and love behind them are what count. They go together. A mere sentiment is not enough, but neither are mere words without a life and loving intention behind them.
I need to practice this longing and loving. I need to see the delight that brings God such joy. I need such longing to be a permanent resident in my heart.
Lord, help me to exchange arguing for blessing, worrying for thanking, forgetting for praising as I learn to long for you and your ways in my life. Let this longing and love be what overflows from my heart instead of impatience and the many words that I have. Let me rest in this: You know what I need before I ask because you long for me and are close to me. Father! Be near to me. Amen.
