There is an old joke… “If you want to make God laugh…tell him your plans.” God tells us that we can ask for anything according to his will…and that he will bring it to us. But so often we pray for things and…well, they just don’t come about. Why is that? We need to know God…but we need to also glorify him as God. It is easy
to fall into the trap of telling God that we believe in him…and then tell him what to do. God hears every prayer…and did you know that he answers every prayer too? But I prayed and I didn’t get it or experience it or see it. Yeah…that’s a “no” or a “wait”. We need to remember that God is God…you and I are not. The Bible reminds us that he knows things and sees things that you and I cannot. Like that old 1950’s TV show…Father really does know best! So why bother praying? Because when we pray, we are linking ourselves as partners with God, in God’s work. When we pray and he answers with a “Yes” we have been partners in something that we can see and feel and experience. When we pray and God answers…and it isn’t yes, we are still partners. At that point we are challenged to have faith that God will do what is right…even though you might not agree or grasp all that God is doing. That is faith…and faith in God’s goodness and wisdom is what he wants from you and me. Now you might say that you remember God doing some really good things…and you didn’t come to him in prayer for it. So why pray? When you don’t pray…God has done this without you. That means that you have had no part in the good that he has done and your faith has had no opportunity to grow deeper and stronger. There are things that I want that God will not give me…because they won’t fit with his plan or his character. God will not hurt me by giving me things that will undermine my faith and life in him. So, pray…and pray about anything and everything. But if it doesn’t come about in this earthly experience, don’t stop being thankful. We have no idea what should happen in our lives or precisely when or how it should take place. Pray and then glorify God by trusting him enough to be thankful for whatever He sends our way. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Proverbs 19:21 NLT You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ
to fall into the trap of telling God that we believe in him…and then tell him what to do. God hears every prayer…and did you know that he answers every prayer too? But I prayed and I didn’t get it or experience it or see it. Yeah…that’s a “no” or a “wait”. We need to remember that God is God…you and I are not. The Bible reminds us that he knows things and sees things that you and I cannot. Like that old 1950’s TV show…Father really does know best! So why bother praying? Because when we pray, we are linking ourselves as partners with God, in God’s work. When we pray and he answers with a “Yes” we have been partners in something that we can see and feel and experience. When we pray and God answers…and it isn’t yes, we are still partners. At that point we are challenged to have faith that God will do what is right…even though you might not agree or grasp all that God is doing. That is faith…and faith in God’s goodness and wisdom is what he wants from you and me. Now you might say that you remember God doing some really good things…and you didn’t come to him in prayer for it. So why pray? When you don’t pray…God has done this without you. That means that you have had no part in the good that he has done and your faith has had no opportunity to grow deeper and stronger. There are things that I want that God will not give me…because they won’t fit with his plan or his character. God will not hurt me by giving me things that will undermine my faith and life in him. So, pray…and pray about anything and everything. But if it doesn’t come about in this earthly experience, don’t stop being thankful. We have no idea what should happen in our lives or precisely when or how it should take place. Pray and then glorify God by trusting him enough to be thankful for whatever He sends our way. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Proverbs 19:21 NLT You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ