06/10/2017
Am I seeking the Lord as I should? Am I asking Jesus for the things that are right in the eyes of God? This morning I am asking myself these questions and seek to place Him foremost in my life as I pray and walk this world.
“And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
Luke 11:9-10 KJV
Over the years I have prayed for many things and many people, but I must ask one question today... were my prayers within God's will and way, or were they centered on myself or the worldly wants of others? This is a very tough question, it is often hard to pray in full knowledge that I am asking God to help me (or others) in something That is needed to serve Him better, and not something I just want... something that makes my physical life more pleasant yet might conflict with what God ultimately has planned for me.
At work I am up for a promotion; it means a better job and more money with which I can support my family. I go to the Lord in prayer asking Him to intercede on my behalf and grant me that job. Finally the decision is made and I am not the one who gets the promotion. I am disappointed and ask God why He didn't answer my prayer. Years go by and I look back on my life. I see the paths that were opened to me and the good that has come from them. I see the hardships and the unanswered prayers and understand that had they been answered I would not be where I am today both in my life and in faith. Each crossroads looked like a simple choice to me... this road takes me to something better for myself and my family, while the other one has certain benefits, but won't prosper me near as much. So I pray, and to my disappointment the lesser road is opened to me; why Lord? Invariably the answer comes back... "I was drawing you nearer to me."
When your prayer isn't answered do you get bitter, or do you ask God to show you why? Then, when He speaks the answer, are you ready to receive it, or are you still too fixed on your loss of immediate gratification to hear "that wasn't good for you, I was drawing you nearer to me."?
“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
James 4:3-4 KJV
The things of this world should not be our ultimate goal. Our hearts, minds, and desires should all be in alignment with what God has in His will for us. When our prayers don't seem to be answered are we really certain they weren't?
I once worked for an ungodly man. He tormented me and I asked God to deliver me from Him... finally my prayers shifted, and i stopped praying for my own deliverance but began to pray for this man instead. The more I prayed for him, the more it seemed he mistreated me, and yet I continued to pray each day. From my perspective it never appeared that God changed this man, but He had certainly changed me. All of those seemingly unanswered prayers had resulted in an increase in my faith that would not have come otherwise. Had you asked me on any of those days of suffering if God was great I would have said "yes", but if you were privy to my prayers and asked me if God was answering my prayers concerning this man I would have said "no"... but all the while I had faith He would. Eventually God provided for me and moved me away from this man, but not before His lesson was complete in me. I still pray for this boss that mistreated me, I haven't given up on the fact that God has a plan for Him too. You see, the will of God superseded my shortsighted desire for relief from suffering; God's answer to my prayers was far greater than anything I could have imagined for myself.
Today I ask that the Lord sift my prayers. Those that fall through and are immediately answered are those that conform to His will, but the others remain in the sifter and roll around until at last they too are reshaped and fall through. I am certain that some will not fall until the moment of my last breath, while others will be tossed away, but I am confident that at that moment they will all be answered... because that is God's perfect will for me.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for answering prayer, and I thank you for your will for me. You are merciful and good Lord, and you work all things for good in my life... even my wayward prayers. Holy Father, open my eyes to your plan and will for my faith and life, but if I see it not... continue to work your good purposes for me. Sift my prayers Lord and never let my poor eyesight harm me, work all my prayers as they fit best in your plan and will because you are good and your will is perfect. I trust in you, and I know that if I suffer there is good reason. You are not arbitrary and no harm comes that will not result in greater good. If it be your will, open my eyes to your purposes, but if that is not your will, then give me the faith to trust blindly in your having answered in my best interest as it pertains to your glory and our relationship. You are a great God, and in your hands I am confident of provision.
Rich Forbes
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 KJV