I love the idea that we can be real with God. My wife and I have been going through a rough month filled with various stresses. I was encouraging her to pray to God and be ultra real. I found myself saying, “You can even cuss to Him if you need.” Is that true? Can we cuss to God?
I firmly believe God isn’t afraid of our “naughty words.” He knows what’s in our hearts and He loves it when we express ourselves openly. I’m no expert at Hebrew vulgarity, but I’m sure David prayed some pretty cuss-filled prayers. I figure if God called him a man after His own heart…David couldn’t have been to far off.
So I’ve decided, I’m going to be gut-wrenchingly honest with God. Will you join me on this journey? Pray prayers that don’t belong in church. Pray prayers that would make the deacons’ wives blush. Pray prayers from your heart instead of prayers from your inhibitions.
God loves an honest prayer.
I find it incredible how often David’s psalms were laments, some of them where you can tell he was very angry with God, and yet God still called him a man after His own heart. I’ve learned that God would rather hear my honest, angry words towards Him than fake, happy words.
Yep. We need to be willing to open up every part of our hearts when we approach God so He can work and uproot the stuff that needs to leave.
Ignorance is bliss and whoever is deceived by it is not wise… God does not have an open ear to sin it is like stink in his nostrils,so if you people think it is ok to cuss god out or cuss in your prayers ,shame on ya your praying to the devil…. God loves a humble prayer not arrogant,also if you study your word it will teach you how to pray be angry and sin not god does not hear a sinners prayer….. Selah
I find it incredible how often David’s psalms were laments, some of them where you can tell he was very angry with God, and yet God still called him a man after His own heart. I’ve learned that God would rather hear my honest, angry words towards Him than fake, happy words.
Yep. We need to be willing to open up every part of our hearts when we approach God so He can work and uproot the stuff that needs to leave.
Ignorance is bliss and whoever is deceived by it is not wise… God does not have an open ear to sin it is like stink in his nostrils,so if you people think it is ok to cuss god out or cuss in your prayers ,shame on ya your praying to the devil…. God loves a humble prayer not arrogant,also if you study your word it will teach you how to pray be angry and sin not god does not hear a sinners prayer….. Selah
We just did a study on Ruth and spent a lot of time discussing the impact that Naomi’s faith had on Ruth. Even in the time of deep grief. It is funny how I have skipped over that or just decided that Ruth was just exceptional. Naomi was also pretty remarkable and had a faith that stirred great passion and she poured her life into Ruth. Thanks for your thoughts.
Thanks for contributing to the conversation, Mike. 🙂
We just did a study on Ruth and spent a lot of time discussing the impact that Naomi’s faith had on Ruth. Even in the time of deep grief. It is funny how I have skipped over that or just decided that Ruth was just exceptional. Naomi was also pretty remarkable and had a faith that stirred great passion and she poured her life into Ruth. Thanks for your thoughts.
Thanks for contributing to the conversation, Mike. 🙂
I’m all for it, Paul uses our equivalents of curse words in many of us books.
Also Psalm 137, is a prayer where the writer is so angry He’s asking God some pretty brutal AND HONEST things.
Honesty is key.
I’m all for it, Paul uses our equivalents of curse words in many of us books.
Also Psalm 137, is a prayer where the writer is so angry He’s asking God some pretty brutal AND HONEST things.
Honesty is key.
I have definitely had some deeply passionate moments of wrestling with God & screaming to Him that I don’t understand why certain things happen and that I just want to give up.
This involved me throwing my Bible at the wall as hard and humanly possible and screaming to the top of my lungs: “What the fuck!”
I think it’s one of the most honest prayers I’ve ever prayed… and i have no regrets.
Because honestly, the feeling that came over me…the real tangible presence of God that filled that place afterwards cannot be described with words (or even motion backgrounds… GASP)
Did He answer my prayer and explain everything? No. But He was WITH ME. And that’s what counts, i think.
Do I think we should cuss to God simply because its “more authentic”? Not really. If you’re cussing just to cuss and “be real”… that is faking it and trying to “be cool.” and it’s embarrassing and stupid.
But do not blaspheme the Holy Spirit or use His Name in vain…that is where I would draw the line.
If your prayers are honest and truly real, and if you just need to really get it out there…then I think God is big enough to handle us crossing a few cultural boundaries that the Church has established. He’s a big boy…He can take your shit. =)
And if you are honestly at that point, then the last thing you are probably concerned with is if God is offended or not. If you’re worried about it…then chances are you probably don’t need to break out the big guns. But when that time comes, just be real and don’t try to fake it just to be cool and rebellious in your own 20/30-something childish ways.
Wow. I’m tempted to censor a few words in this comment but I’ll let it ride. 🙂
I agree…when we accuse or curse God He has a way of quickly shutting us up. Check Job for that business. 🙂
This, so much. Glad you didn’t censor this, Jonathan!
I have definitely had some deeply passionate moments of wrestling with God & screaming to Him that I don’t understand why certain things happen and that I just want to give up.
This involved me throwing my Bible at the wall as hard and humanly possible and screaming to the top of my lungs: “What the fuck!”
I think it’s one of the most honest prayers I’ve ever prayed… and i have no regrets.
Because honestly, the feeling that came over me…the real tangible presence of God that filled that place afterwards cannot be described with words (or even motion backgrounds… GASP)
Did He answer my prayer and explain everything? No. But He was WITH ME. And that’s what counts, i think.
Do I think we should cuss to God simply because its “more authentic”? Not really. If you’re cussing just to cuss and “be real”… that is faking it and trying to “be cool.” and it’s embarrassing and stupid.
But do not blaspheme the Holy Spirit or use His Name in vain…that is where I would draw the line.
If your prayers are honest and truly real, and if you just need to really get it out there…then I think God is big enough to handle us crossing a few cultural boundaries that the Church has established. He’s a big boy…He can take your shit. =)
And if you are honestly at that point, then the last thing you are probably concerned with is if God is offended or not. If you’re worried about it…then chances are you probably don’t need to break out the big guns. But when that time comes, just be real and don’t try to fake it just to be cool and rebellious in your own 20/30-something childish ways.
Wow. I’m tempted to censor a few words in this comment but I’ll let it ride. 🙂
I agree…when we accuse or curse God He has a way of quickly shutting us up. Check Job for that business. 🙂
This, so much. Glad you didn’t censor this, Jonathan!
From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks… when you pray passionately trash comes out, this is a spiritual problem that needs to be repented of, not bragged about.
Most definitely. But too often we censor our heart when we talk to God. We’re deluding ourselves. I’m not a fan of cussing. But we need to be honest with God because that honesty can bring about His work in the deepest part of our hearts.
I am for honest communication. However I think if we review the honesty reflected in scripture, it is a overflowing of “God have mercy on me.”
I am a man of unclean lips and dwell among a people of unclean lips.
God is not near as concerned about how we feel as he is about our submission to his will and word. Often our frustration stems at our resisting his will or being disobedient to his word.
Never have I felt more in need of repentance than basking in his presence and reflecting on his word.
Father forgive me for allowing everything in this world to frustrate me.
From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks… when you pray passionately trash comes out, this is a spiritual problem that needs to be repented of, not bragged about.
Most definitely. But too often we censor our heart when we talk to God. We’re deluding ourselves. I’m not a fan of cussing. But we need to be honest with God because that honesty can bring about His work in the deepest part of our hearts.
I am for honest communication. However I think if we review the honesty reflected in scripture, it is a overflowing of “God have mercy on me.”
I am a man of unclean lips and dwell among a people of unclean lips.
God is not near as concerned about how we feel as he is about our submission to his will and word. Often our frustration stems at our resisting his will or being disobedient to his word.
Never have I felt more in need of repentance than basking in his presence and reflecting on his word.
Father forgive me for allowing everything in this world to frustrate me.
I feel a worship song coming on. Don’t think it’ll make it to CCLI top 100 though =(
Haha. I don’t think I’d feel comfortable singing that song. 😛
I feel a worship song coming on. Don’t think it’ll make it to CCLI top 100 though =(
Haha. I don’t think I’d feel comfortable singing that song. 😛
I believe in being real with God and showing our frustrations, disappointments etc. However, I believe there is a line and that no filthy communications should come from our mouths…esp into the face of the most holy, sinless force in the universe. One of the problems of our day is the lack of reverence or proper fear (awe) of God. If we would yell at God something we wouldn’t yell in the presence of our parents, our governor, our president, etc…then something is amiss! Again, I def appreciate honesty with God…just keep some reverence and respect. That’s my thoughts.
How do you reconcile that with prayers from Moses, David, Job, etc? Where they accuse God and practically yell at Him? I believe in reverence…but I also believe our relationship lets us go beyond that. He’s a loving father that we can approach honestly.
I think there’s danger when we approach God reservedly…we fail to expose the deep parts of our hearts that He wants to purify. I’m not saying cussing is good or acceptable…but revealing that to Him reveals it to us that it’s something He needs to purify.
I believe in being real with God and showing our frustrations, disappointments etc. However, I believe there is a line and that no filthy communications should come from our mouths…esp into the face of the most holy, sinless force in the universe. One of the problems of our day is the lack of reverence or proper fear (awe) of God. If we would yell at God something we wouldn’t yell in the presence of our parents, our governor, our president, etc…then something is amiss! Again, I def appreciate honesty with God…just keep some reverence and respect. That’s my thoughts.
How do you reconcile that with prayers from Moses, David, Job, etc? Where they accuse God and practically yell at Him? I believe in reverence…but I also believe our relationship lets us go beyond that. He’s a loving father that we can approach honestly.
I think there’s danger when we approach God reservedly…we fail to expose the deep parts of our hearts that He wants to purify. I’m not saying cussing is good or acceptable…but revealing that to Him reveals it to us that it’s something He needs to purify.
The real thing we should consider. As men, we can Cuss God all day and it not effect him. He can curse us and we are toast.
selah
my thoughts on this blog after an afternoon nap.
Bottom Line, God is not my best bud, though I can know him in a friend dimension.. he is more than my friend. He is THE Holy God of Eternity.
I have my own Selah coming Friday. Hopefully the conversation will progress a bit more. I think we might agree…perhaps not. 🙂
The real thing we should consider. As men, we can Cuss God all day and it not effect him. He can curse us and we are toast.
selah
my thoughts on this blog after an afternoon nap.
Bottom Line, God is not my best bud, though I can know him in a friend dimension.. he is more than my friend. He is THE Holy God of Eternity.
I have my own Selah coming Friday. Hopefully the conversation will progress a bit more. I think we might agree…perhaps not. 🙂
Wow. this is what the body needs in these last days.. to be real and upfront with God. I will use this as a good example with others that are afraid to offend God with thier conversations.. its liberating to be able to be yourslef in God’s face. He knows our hearts anyway., So all you bors that think we’re in sin. well your in sin for even thinkin we are in sin… group hug. lets go….
Wow. this is what the body needs in these last days.. to be real and upfront with God. I will use this as a good example with others that are afraid to offend God with thier conversations.. its liberating to be able to be yourslef in God’s face. He knows our hearts anyway., So all you bors that think we’re in sin. well your in sin for even thinkin we are in sin… group hug. lets go….
When I first saw the topic that this post was about a few days ago, I was a little worried of the course that it would go down… can we be real? haha
But when I read it I was surprised, because I began to think about the form of communication that God wants to have with us. The kind of communication where we can completely free our minds, and let our emotions out on the table…
I’m not sure I’ve ever had a “PROCTOR” moment… haha.. but the key to the whole thing which has been addressed in the post and in the comments is the honesty of our words not only in our prayers, but in our lives, God knows the words we say in prayer, and out, as well as our hearts wants and desires, and I believe truly that God just wants us to be as open and honest with him as He is with us. He may not give us all the answers… but the answers we do get are always honest. That’s one of the things I love about God, He already knows who I am, so why would I pretend to be something I’m not???
[i should clarify by saying that I’m not a huge cuss word user, but I’m not perfect… haha God knows my heart, and that’s what matters!]
Bravo! Great summary. Though I still have a bit more to come tomorrow on the topic. I realized I sort of left people hanging with the post…needed to round it out a bit more. 🙂
When I first saw the topic that this post was about a few days ago, I was a little worried of the course that it would go down… can we be real? haha
But when I read it I was surprised, because I began to think about the form of communication that God wants to have with us. The kind of communication where we can completely free our minds, and let our emotions out on the table…
I’m not sure I’ve ever had a “PROCTOR” moment… haha.. but the key to the whole thing which has been addressed in the post and in the comments is the honesty of our words not only in our prayers, but in our lives, God knows the words we say in prayer, and out, as well as our hearts wants and desires, and I believe truly that God just wants us to be as open and honest with him as He is with us. He may not give us all the answers… but the answers we do get are always honest. That’s one of the things I love about God, He already knows who I am, so why would I pretend to be something I’m not???
[i should clarify by saying that I’m not a huge cuss word user, but I’m not perfect… haha God knows my heart, and that’s what matters!]
Bravo! Great summary. Though I still have a bit more to come tomorrow on the topic. I realized I sort of left people hanging with the post…needed to round it out a bit more. 🙂
I’m not proud to say that I’ve prayed a few strong prayers in my life – not necessarily ‘cuss words’ but the feeling was there.
Sometimes strong words are the only way God can get a message across. If you don’t believe me, read Ezekiel 23:20…..
I’m not proud to say that I’ve prayed a few strong prayers in my life – not necessarily ‘cuss words’ but the feeling was there.
Sometimes strong words are the only way God can get a message across. If you don’t believe me, read Ezekiel 23:20…..