Combating Overthinking In Prayer – Sharon’s Story.

Reading Time: 2 mins.

That Saturday Morning

Waking up early for Super Saturday*, a wave of gratitude washed over me. It wasn’t only about attending; everything seemed to click that day.

Finding keke on time, arriving early – it all felt like a divine orchestration. I remember thinking to myself, “I am going to God’s house and He is making sure I arrive on time.”

Stepping into church always feels like home. And this Saturday was no different. In my head, I found myself saying, “This is where I am supposed to be, at this moment, at this hour, right now”. It almost felt like the atmosphere was embracing me and saying, “Welcome Home”. I felt invited to pray and communicate with my Father.

But in that moment, I got slightly nervous about being in God’s House and talking with Him. Here’s why: I was already overthinking. One major thought was that I haven’t “prepared” for this particular Super Saturday. I haven’t been talking to God consistently before this day.

With my lack of “preparation”, these questions tugged at my heart, “How am I going to talk to God? Would God really want to listen to me?”

Read How to develop a prayer habit

The Stand Out Moment

Just then, the person leading prayers said these words, “God invited you. You are not here by mistake.” The assurance of the voice drowned out the doubtful questions tugging at my heart. After letting the words sink into my soul, I said to myself, “I came to meet with my Father even though my feelings beg to differ”.

There and then, I realised my tendency to overthink prayer. This message became a constant reminder, a note scribbled in my journal, to combat overthinking, especially around prayer.

Walking in, I feared I will experience the familiar struggle of connecting during worship. As the worship began, my fear materialised. Looking around and seeing everyone so immersed in the worship experience made me feel odd.

Then, Pastor Tolu’s words echoed in my mind: “Think of it as a generator powering a house. As long as you stay plugged in and connected, you stay powered.” So I closed my eyes, actively focused, and allowed myself to be plugged into the worship.

Burdens Lifted

The reading of a specific verse, “Cast all your burdens upon Him (1 Peter 5:7),” resonated deeply with me. Juggling school and a new leadership role had filled me with doubts and anxieties.  I second-guessed my abilities to balance it all.

Being reminded that I could cast all my worries on God because He cares for me was a revelation. I saw it as if God said to me “Let go and let God.” 

Despite not being fully prepared, the scriptures read that day became prompts, helping me recall the burdens I wanted to address with God. They were encouraging and comforting. As the intense prayer session began, I joined my church family, allowing myself to release my worries and welcome God’s peace.

The scripture about approaching the throne of grace with confidence helped me silence my inner critic (Hebrews 4:16). I simply laid everything bare.

Though fatigue washed over me, physically, during the prayers, my spirit felt remarkably refreshed and strengthened. Joining fellow believers to pray felt great and injected me with the desire to pray

Leaving the church that day, I carried a newfound resolve – I had to return for another Super Saturday.

Another Super Saturday is happening on the 11th of May 2024 at exactly 7:00 AM WAT. You are welcome to join us onsite, behind Mobil Filling Station, Samonda Ibadan, or online on YouTube right HERE We look forward to praying with you.

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Super Saturday: A Prayer Gathering of Believers at Sycamore Church.

Interview with Bolu Sharon by Lolade Folorunsho

Edited by Osham Ndubisi

Lolade and Osham serve with the Content Team at Sycamore Church 

(Blogposts are creative expressions generously provided for Sycamore Church. The ideas and thoughts do not necessarily represent the position of Sycamore Church)