That poor genie! We all know how cats love to rub up on things! That genie is never going to get a break! As I laughed at this meme (which only reinforced my desire for a dog), it occurred to me that we are often the cat and God is our genie.

When we go to God, what are our motives and intentions? The Bible teaches us that we are to go to him with our problems and our worries. He will hear us, and help us.

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

Psalm 34:7

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7

Yet, we also know that we are to have a relationship with Jesus. If you only spoke to your best friend about all your problems, expecting him/her to fix the problems, but then never said thank you or complimented them, would you have much of a relationship? If you never invested time outside of worry and problems, would the relationship be very deep?

I think we would all answer no. And if our friend was doing that to us, I think we would all feel like the genie in the picture.

Although God wants us to come to him with all our worries and problems, he also desires a relationship with us. Throughout the Bible, we are told to come to God with joy, thanksgiving, worship and more. This doesn’t mean we can’t go to God with our problems, pleading for help. It means that we need to go to God with everything.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Philippians 4:6

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Colossians 4:2

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:14-17

God wants a relationship with us. This is woven throughout the Bible. From the start, he walked in the garden with Adam and Eve and enjoyed relationship with them. He sent Jesus to die for our sins to restore the relationship.

Relationships take time, and they take investment. Joys, sorrows, thanks, requests, … all of it. If you are feeling that your relationship with God is not deep like you want it. Evaluate how you talk to God. See if there are ways to better communicate.

  1. Take time this week to examine your prayer life. Are your prayers only asking for help, making God your genie?
  2. Do your prayers have any praise, thanksgiving, worship, or joys?
  3. If you feel you are lacking in your prayers, take time to talk to God about what has been good about your week. Thank him for the things that you appreciate. Tell him how great he has been to you and your family.

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Meme pictures derived from social media and shared under Fair Use Copyright Law

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