A word of encouragement to us over-explainer’s that we can bank on:
Luke 11:9-10 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” –Jesus
I have a friend who over-explains everything. Is there a word for that? If there is, I should know…I am just like her. Instead of asking for something directly, she explains every detail why she is asking and what brought her to this moment in time. And she apologizes for having to ask for whatever it is that she is asking for. I love her dearly. As she stood in my doorway and walked me through her highlight reel from last night; telling me every detail that had led her to me this morning, I kept thinking whatever it was she was going to ask from me, I hoped I could help her. Because I love her dearly. And at the same time, I also was trying to figure out what that would be. But there were random details that blocked me from drawing any conclusions to what she was going to ask. I listened a little while longer when I finally asked, “What do you need?” And as she told me, she apologized, again for having to ask but I was happy I could help her. Because I love her dearly.
Luke 11:10 from the Message puts Jesus’ words like this, “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need.”
Pause. Over-explaining to our Heavenly Father, who dearly loves us and wants to give us what we need, must sound ridiculous. Seriously. He wants to give. While we? We really just want to explain. And as we over-explain to our all-knowing God, He lovingly and patiently just waits for us to ask. I realized listening to my friend that in our over-explaining and using a lot of words, we are really saying that we believe for our good God to meet our needs, He must first understand the circumstances that led us there. And in our explaining that, He either says, “Yes, that’s a good explanation, I will help you” or “Ummm, na, that’s not a good enough explanation. Keep talking.” That is seriously ridiculous! Because the truth is that He loves us dearly, without conditions and He wants to give us good things, period. Because that’s who He is.
What do you need? Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened. Come and I will give." You can bank on His words.
(Read Luke 11:1-13 for all of Jesus’ teaching on prayer)
Luke 11:9-10 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” –Jesus
I have a friend who over-explains everything. Is there a word for that? If there is, I should know…I am just like her. Instead of asking for something directly, she explains every detail why she is asking and what brought her to this moment in time. And she apologizes for having to ask for whatever it is that she is asking for. I love her dearly. As she stood in my doorway and walked me through her highlight reel from last night; telling me every detail that had led her to me this morning, I kept thinking whatever it was she was going to ask from me, I hoped I could help her. Because I love her dearly. And at the same time, I also was trying to figure out what that would be. But there were random details that blocked me from drawing any conclusions to what she was going to ask. I listened a little while longer when I finally asked, “What do you need?” And as she told me, she apologized, again for having to ask but I was happy I could help her. Because I love her dearly.
Luke 11:10 from the Message puts Jesus’ words like this, “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need.”
Pause. Over-explaining to our Heavenly Father, who dearly loves us and wants to give us what we need, must sound ridiculous. Seriously. He wants to give. While we? We really just want to explain. And as we over-explain to our all-knowing God, He lovingly and patiently just waits for us to ask. I realized listening to my friend that in our over-explaining and using a lot of words, we are really saying that we believe for our good God to meet our needs, He must first understand the circumstances that led us there. And in our explaining that, He either says, “Yes, that’s a good explanation, I will help you” or “Ummm, na, that’s not a good enough explanation. Keep talking.” That is seriously ridiculous! Because the truth is that He loves us dearly, without conditions and He wants to give us good things, period. Because that’s who He is.
What do you need? Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened. Come and I will give." You can bank on His words.
(Read Luke 11:1-13 for all of Jesus’ teaching on prayer)
And seriously, what is the word for being an over-explainer?