We’re told to put off our old self and put on our new self — to use discretion, to be obedient, submissive, gentle, and pure, to be kind and compassionate. We’re told to forgive as we’ve been forgiven, to know God’s character, to become more like Christ.

But, how do we do that? How does God show us our heart? How do we enter into that intimate relationship with Him? We can’t just determine to try hard to do these things. We have to ask God to show us our heart, and allow Him, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to renew and transform us into His likeness. And He’s faithful to do that, little by little. It’s a moment-by-moment, day-by-day process.

So, how do we come before God in honesty? Consider an excerpt from a letter written by Francois Fenelon, a 17th century monk:

“Talk with God about the thoughts of which your heart is full. If you enjoy the presence of God, if you feel drawn to love Him, tell Him so. Such sensible passion will make the time of prayer fly without exhausting you, for all you’ll have to do is say what you feel.

‘But what, you ask, are you to do in the times of dryness, inner resistance, and coldness?’ Do the same thing. Say equally what is in your heart! Tell God that you no longer feel any love for Him, that everything is a terrible blank to you. Tell Him that things concerning Him exhausts you, that His presence doesn’t move you emotionally, that you long to leave Him for whatever comes your way, and that you won’t feel happy until you’ve left Him and can turn your time into thinking about yourself. Tell Him all the evil you know about yourself.

So, how can we even ask what there is to talk to God about? There’s so much! When you tell Him about your miseries, ask Him to cure them. Say to Him, ‘My God, you see my ingratitude, my inconsistency. Take my heart for I don’t know how to give it to You. Give me an inner distaste for external things; give me crosses necessary to bring me back under your leadership. Have mercy on me in spite of myself!’

In this way either God’s mercies or your own miseries will always give you enough to talk to Him about. The subject will never be exhausted. “In either of these two states I’ve described, tell Him without hesitation everything that comes into your head, with simplicity and familiarity, as a little child sitting on its mothers knee.”

I’m just now learning to seek His face. He’s teaching me how to be honest with Him. And in my honesty, He meets me. Layer by layer, He shows me the hardness surrounding my heart —my pride, my anger, and my resentment.

Then, as I walk with Him, He shows me what’s behind those emotions, and He peels that hard shell off my heart one thin layer at a time.

The end of Psalm 139 reads, “Search me O God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts; see if there is any offensive way in me and lead me into life everlasting.”

Spend time with God in complete honesty. Ask Him to reveal His character to you. And, give Him your uncompromising obedience.

The above article titled, Talking in Honesty with God, was adapted from an article written by Meg Kempton featured in the January 2000, Women’s Ministries Newsletter for Grace Community Church in Detroit, Michigan.

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