Have you ever prayed for something or some situation and prayed that "the Lord's will be done" even if that meant that you didn't get the response you wanted? How do you feel when the Lord's will is not your will?
In June, it will be 4 years since I have known Christ as my personal Savior. The last four years have been interesting spiritually. While I struggle with many things (too many I'm afraid) one of my biggest struggles is praying. To be honest, I'm not really sure how to. No one has ever really "taught" me. I try and listen intently to how they pray. I'm very nervous about praying in front of people because I'm horribly afraid I'm going to say something heritical. But yet, I know its something I need to do more of, and by not praying more (and in public), my prayer life simply won't grow.
One of those things I always seem to hear in a prayer is that "the Lord's will" be done in (insert the situation here). The Lord's will is always perfect, and he knows best. Even when that outcome means the absolute worst in our human minds, the Lord is in control. For example, last semester when I had a former friend and teacher pass away after fighting cancer for over a year, I was confused as to exactly how the Lord's will was that in all things God works for our good. When Mrs. Swisher did pass away, her funeral at church was JAM PACKED with people that she had come in contact with from church, school, workers at the hospital, unsaved friends from years past, and unsaved relatives. Her unsaved friends and family and the workers that came saw something different in Mrs. Swisher's life. 17 people got saved at her funeral. Indeed, God does work everything to our good, even in death.
The past few days and weeks or so, I've been praying for several things, but one thing in particular. Well, all seemed right in my mind that the opportunity was there and it was what God intended. I finally prayed that "Lord, if this is the situation you have for me, make it happen. If its not you will, close the door tomorrow." Guess what happened? The door got SLAMMED shut. I was really confused, disappointed, and kind of hurt by the whole thing. I mean, didn't God want what was good for my life? Didn't he want me to be happy? Did Jesus himself say "Ask and it shall be given you?"
The answers are all resounding yeses. But I read through the Lords prayer (could there really be a better "prayer handbook?").
Mat 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Oh yeah. So I shouldn't pray for the Lords will unless I really mean it huh? I really do want God's will, on a daily bias, but also on my entire life, that he could say, "well done, thou good and faithfully servant." I want to be able to look back at my life (Lord willing), (as Paul in 2 Tim did) and say that I have been on God's path.
Moral of the story: If I really want God's will for my life, day to day or long term, than I need to pray for God's will and actually mean that I want God's will. Even if that means I do get the "need" that I desire.
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4 comments:
Slim, we've all experienced the very thing you are talking about. God is teaching me though, that I just need to be real with Him. He isn't impressed when I tack on an "if it's your will" to a request. Why do I say it then? To remind myself that I need to be in a position that will accept whatever God chooses to do. After all, like you said, He will work things out for the best. And I think He's powerful enough to depend on.
Slim,
Good thoughts. Although we struggle to understand how, we know that prayer actually accomplishes much. However, I think a big part of prayer is simply submission to our Father. We should be honest with God and share our desires with Him and ask for what we truly desire for Him to do (I mean he desires to give us good gifts, he wants to give us richly all things), but then we always must rest in the assurance that what He does is always right. I know in my life, I am praying specifically about a particular situation. I have told God my desire for that situation, but my ultimate desire should be His perfect desire. Thanks for thought provoking post...i'll catch you later chico.
Thanks for the post, Jon Paul, it was an encouragement to me. :) We all struggle with reconciling our own desires with God's desires. It's awesome though, when we can look back on ethings and realize how much better God's plan was than our own!
Oh, and next time we have a meal together, you're praying. :)
Each prayer is answered,
That is so.
But for your own good,
It may at times be no.
:)
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