05/03/2021
What do we ask of God in prayer, and are those things actually within His Will for us, or even consistent with His perfect character? Are our prayers true to the tenets of faith, or perhaps something that would bring us or others, harm? Let’s ask ourselves today if what we ask for in our prayers will glorify God, and bring us, or those who are yet to believe, to repentance. Then let’s look inward and determine if we have the patience to wait for them?
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9 ESV
We discern God’s will, pray, and then wait on Him to fulfill what we believe to be His promise to us by doing that thing which was the subject of our prayer. Some prayers are answered the minute we pray them, some are being fulfilled before our mouths speak the very first word in prayer, many require us to wait on Him while the perfect moment is reached, but others are harmful to us and not within His will, and our selfishness blinds us to the fact that these are best left undelivered. It is in the waiting, and undeliverable prayers, that we find our greatest challenges to faith, because we are an impatient lot, or ask for things that go against who God is. Do we find that understanding God’s will, or patiently waiting on Him to act, are the things that rattle the underpinnings of our belief?
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
James 1:6-8 ESV
When I was playing baseball as a boy I would say a quick prayer before coming to the plate to bat. I would ask God for a home run, or at least to get to first base. As children we find that a great many of our prayers are like this... trivial , and childlike in nature. When we reach adulthood the prayers change a bit, but most are equally for selfish things of little spiritual consequence. We pray to reach the next gas station when our car is low on fuel, or many other such prayers of minutia. The number of times we pray for increased faith, a loved one’s walk of faith, or the salvation of a neighbor, are tiny in comparison... and yet these lesser prayers can impact our relationship with the Lord just as much as the grand prayers in our lives... and sometimes more!
“...You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.”
James 4:2-3 ESV
Here is what I mean: when we pray for a promotion at work we quote scripture, and attempt to hold God to His promise to grant ALL things, arguing our understanding as if it were a legal document, but if we pray for the soul of a workmate, and don’t see any movement, then we tell ourselves “It’s in God’s hands.”, or “I guess it is not God’s will today”, and let it go. We lean on God for the prayers dealing with our own physical lives or personal wellbeing and desires, but treat the grand things that would bring God the most glory as if they were actually the trivial ones. The promotion that we were passed over for rattles our faith, but the lost soul of a workmate is easily dismissed.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””
Mark 10:45 ESV
So how do we pray, and are the periods of waiting, and unanswered prayers shaking our belief? Do we blame God when we are impatient, or for our lack of understanding His will and character? You see, sometimes that home run in our life doesn’t come because the little pitcher we are facing is on the verge of believing, and has asked God to prove Himself with a single strikeout. God’s glory isn’t served by our gratification, but by our obedience to Him, and a saved life. As for that promotion at work? Well just maybe the new boss you would have is terrible, and his sinfulness would have caused you great harm, to lose your job, or even the loss of your faith.
Trust in the will of God when your prayer goes unanswered, ask if your desire is Christlike, determine if your prayer is something God can give you without compromising who He is, and continue to faithfully pray as you wait for those asks that will bring Him glory... yet seem too slow in coming.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for prayer, and our ability to ask you for things that will help us through life, and in our belief. Thank you for the increase of faith we receive as we seek out your will, understand who you are, and wait on those prayers that will bring you glory. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who desires to give us every good thing, and treats us like the loving Father that you are. Praised be your name for our answered prayers, but praise you most for withholding those prayerful requests we make that would have gone against your will, lessened who you are, or brought us harm. You are merciful and kind Lord as you provided de for us, and give us our heart’s desires. You are mighty and wise as you weigh out our requests, and determine if, and when, you can satisfy them. Great is your grace that leads to the fulfillment of our prayers for salvation, and brings many souls to you. Hear our prayers today Father, and help us to pray as you would have us do... asking in contrition for your forgiveness, and only for those things that will bring you glory, and make us worthy in your sight. Hear the intercessions of Jesus as He prays for us, and wash us clean as you immerse us in His blood. Lift us up, and all those who have been represented in our prayers, to sit complete in our faith, dining at your table forevermore.
Rich Forbes