Have you ever noticed how when you mention God in conversation (no, not that way…), that things suddenly become real?
I was having a difficult time finding funds for gas. I had funds on a card the gas station didn’t take. I did a work around through my phone by doing a funds transfer from the unacceptable card to another card and then, again through my phone, from that card to my refillable gas gift card. The attendant swiped the gift card; …nothing. I murmured, “Come on, God, help me…” Another attendant looked up along with a customer. I swiped again. It went through and I murmured, “God is good.” When I looked up, everyone was smiling. Some were smiling to themselves. Many were nodding.
Why is it when people pray out loud, they sound as if they are speaking for your benefit or for the benefit of the room and not as if they really are speaking to someone? Have you ever heard anyone say out loud, particularly in church, “Okay God, let me ask you this…” or even, “God, I want you to know something…” It’s always in a ‘recite the creed’ tone of voice. If you don’t sound like you believe in God, how is anyone else going to believe in God ….or even believe that YOU believe in God?
There have been many times when I thought I was going to do something but didn’t. In ‘psychiatry/psychology-speak’ this is often referred to as ideation, such as in ‘suicidal ideation,’ a rather derogatory term meaning you’re a wimp and you haven’t got the nerve to do it. (I don’t want to think about how many people have gone through with suicide just to prove ‘friends,’ family members, and doctors wrong.)
My point is this: taking it out of the mind of intention and into the verbal makes it more real for me. My imagination and mind of intention are not trustworthy. And I don’t think I am alone in this. I read an article yesterday that mentioned cognitive behavioral therapy…or ‘talk’ therapy. Talking about how one thinks about things, situations, and life; and how one behaves as a result of one’s thoughts; and talking about making changes (not just thinking about making changes) gives it more oomph. Verbalizing affirmations is what gives them power, not just the present tense of the verb.
Am I making any sense? Talk to me…
(The image above is borrowed from the internet. I did an internet search for “making it real;” don’t do that. just don’t.)
