We tend to present to God only those parts of ourselves with which we feel relatively comfortable and which we think will evoke a positive response. Thus our prayer becomes very selective and narrow. And not just our prayer but also our self-knowledge, because by behaving as strangers before God we become strangers to ourselves.
God knows everything about us anyway. What do we think we're hiding when don't just talk with him/her about everything! The more honest we are with God, the better we'll understand ourselves.
One of the things that I have learned over the last few months is that "God knows all about us anyway, so why try to hide anything from him?" Hiding only makes it worse in the long run.
For awhile it was very disconcerting to feel so "naked" in front of God. Then I started getting used to it. But I also have learned that God is usually very gentle when He does speak to me about what is going on. And I usually feel a lot better after whatever is going on is confronted.
God with me sometimes will know what I am going for prayer for, and dodge my immediate question to speak to something that is more important. Now that is really interesting.
Me
Deanna Jean-
This "nakedness" you spoke of, I believe, is so important and pivotol in our Honest and Healing Relationship with GOD!
In that primal 'Garden of Eden' Adam and Eve delighted to walk with God in the 'cool of the Evening' but after they ate of the 'Forbidden Fruit' they "HID" from God - "...and God said to them 'why are you hiding?'...and they said 'we were Naked so we Hid'...then God said 'Who told you that you were Naked?...so you have eatin of the Forbidden Fruit...".
"...because by behaving as strangers before God, we become strangers to ourselves". I would also add to the author's quote that we also become strangers to one another - that is why they,in turn,made clothing out of 'fig leaves'. Do we not all fabricate our own 'fig leaves' too in our relationships with God, ourselves and others!
Thank you Deanna for a point well made,
margaret rose
Dear Margaret Rose,
Thank you for your kind words.
When I am feeling particularly vulnerable in one or another situation, I tend to have dreams (actually night terrors) about being naked and not being able to find my way home (a place to hide).
I thought about using some word other than naked, but no other word felt adequate from my point of view.
Deanna Jean
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