01/29/2020
When we are living and asking within the will of God, then He will give us our desires because they are His also. So often we misinterpret scripture regarding what God has told us He will give to us, and think that He has promised us all things without reservation ; including our earthly desires that fly in the face of God’s character, but that is not so. First we must ask within His will, or in other words... delight ourselves in Him.
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalms 37:4 ESV
When we have become righteous, Christlike, and have aligned ourselves with the character of God, then our desires will be righteous as well. When we think as Jesus, and seek God’s will in all we do, then it stands to reason that our wants will be good, and righteous as well. God gave His good and perfect Son to redeem us, and make us acceptable to Him, and in this way our desires should follow and should be equally acceptable to Him.
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
Romans 8:32 ESV
As a child I could ask my parents for various gifts and provisions, and they would provide them. One year at Christmas I asked for a bicycle and received one, and for my birthday I asked for a baseball glove and sure enough I received one of those too, but I knew that if I asked for things that went against their character... things that they saw as unacceptable... I would not get them. So why is it that we think that we can ask God for those gifts and other things that go against His laws, character, or which stretch what He sees as good for us, or outside His will, and think He has promised us such things?
He doesn’t refuse us to simply hurt us, to be contrary, or to Lord over us... He denies us because we ask for things that are not according to His will for us. Jesus confirms this when He says these words..,
“saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."”
Luke 22:42 ESV
In this prayer Jesus shows us how to ask of God by asking Him in this way... “If you are willing,” and “not my will, but yours, be done.” This is how we should ask too, and when we do so then we will receive all things according to their being conformed to the will and nature of God. Nothing we ask for is too great for God, but the great things we ask for must be acceptable within His will for us.
We should also remember that God’s will is not necessarily the same for each of our lives. He can give barren elderly couples a child, but that is not His will for all aged couples who have not had a child. What we ask must be in alignment with God’s will and plan for our specific lives...
“And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God."”
Luke 1:36-37 ESV
So we are given our desires according to the will of God, and that will is not necessarily the same for each of us. We see this very clearly in the gifts we are given to accomplish God’s will and plan for us...
“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”
Romans 12:6-8 ESV
In this way we see that if we ask for a gift that isn’t necessarily bad, or sinful, it might not be according to His plan for our individual life. Sometimes we are met with silence to our prayers, not because they are outside of God’s character, or sinful, but simply because they are not according to His specific will for us, and our lives. To this end we should first seek His will, and then ask accordingly...
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the good and perfect will you have for me, and the plan you have for my life. Thank you for your greater will for all the world, including everything, and everyone, within it. Your love, mercy, and grace, are all working for the good of those who love you, and I pray that you keep me in the arms of your perfect will now, and throughout eternity. Give me the resolve that I might obey your will for me, and give me the strength to do those things you have revealed to me. Let me only ask for those gifts, and desires, that conform to your plan for me, and bring glory to you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who gives to me according to your riches all those things I ask of you as we walk together. Great are you who works all things for good in my life, and spares no effort in doing so. Help me Lord to know your will, and have mercy on me Father in those times when I ask of you before seeking it. Give me patience as I wait upon you for those things I know to be your desire for me, and give me peace in those quiet hours as I await in continued prayer. Praised be your name Lord for all the love, goodness, redemption, mercy, and grace you pour out into my life. All glory is yours Holy Father, and in this I ask that you let your Spirit intercede for me. As I carry my cross through life I pray you give me voice to shout “Glory to God in the highest!”
“And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
Romans 8:27 ESV
“"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"”
Luke 2:14 ESV
Rich Forbes