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"With my voice I cry out to the LORD; with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD."

~ Psalm 142:1

 

Are you one who has much inner self-dialogue?  When hurt or offended or scared or desperate, do you have a lot to say but rarely say it?  Do you also then experience the tangible difference between an inner thought/feeling and a verbalized thought/feeling?...between a silent prayer in your heart and an audible prayer?  I know I do. 

David makes a pointed effort in the opening verses of this psalm of desperation about speaking with his voice to the LORD.  It is not wrong or somehow less to pray non-verbally, but let us not be neglectful of ever speaking our prayers aloud even when alone.  God can hear that voice in your head or heart, but he loves to hear and respond to the voice of your vocal cords as well. 

Although Psalm 142 is a prayer of desperations it ends with a settled confidence and peace and joy that leads to worship.

May it do the same for you.

P.S. Reflection:

Voicing my inner dialogue should evidence the seriousness and conviction of what I am thinking or feeling.  I can be too casual, flippant or reckless in only my thoughts.  To speak, I must give more weight and consideration to what I say.  Like toothpaste from the bottle, once out it cannot be put back in.  Unfortunately, I often end up being too casual, flippant or reckless in my spoken words as well.

I can convince myself at times that I really feel better when I “say things in my head” rather than out loud.  But honestly that usually prolongs and exaggerates whatever the issue is.  I am not saying we should have no guard over our mouth and say all that we are thinking and feeling.  Absolutely not!  Just look back to Psalm 141 where David pleads with the LORD to set a guard over his mouth and keep watch over the door of his lips.