02/21/2022
There are times in our lives when we will pray for a thing and we won’t receive it. Every day we rekindle our desire for this one thing, and yet we hear nothing regarding it. The Lord is providing for us, protecting us, and doing hundreds of other things in our lives, but on the subject of this one thing He remains silent. We tell ourselves to wait upon the Lord, but after many days with no response we become frustrated, and begin to lose faith in prayer. Consider this… in all the times we prayed, and asked the question “When Lord?”, did we ever ask Him the real question… “What is your will?”. Do we ever consider that we might be praying for something that is outside of God’s will, and plan, for us?
“I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.”
Psalm 57:2 ESV
God has a plan for us that is meant to prosper us while glorifying Himself. When Jesus prayed it was God’s will that was predominate in His prayers, and His will should be the focus of our prayers as well. Jesus asked that the cup be removed from Him, but He did not receive that desire. What Jesus received an answer to that night was the real prayer… that God’s will be done, not His.
“And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.””
Luke 22:41-42 ESV
As children at Christmas we received gifts. We make out a list of a few things we would like to receive, but there are always one or two things on our list which we really want more than the others. Did Christmas ever come, and under the tree you found all of your wants, except for that one thing you wanted the most? What happened then? Did you allow it to ruin your Christmas, or destroy for you the idea of Christ’s birth altogether? Did the absence of that one item spoil the joy in all of the other gifts? This can happen in our prayer closet as well, and the disappointment comes when we aren’t cognizant of God’s will, and our will rules over our hearts.
“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
1 John 2:16-17 ESV
When we place our will first and foremost in our lives then we have lost sight of our faith in God, what we should believe regarding Him, and we will be destined for silence in our prayer closets. Our will should align perfectly with the will of God, and if it does then the plan He has for us will satisfy our every need, and prayer…. And He will be glorified.
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.”
1 John 5:14 ESV
We should seek out the will of God before we pray, and if we aren’t certain that we know it, then we should pray as Jesus did and say “not my will, but yours, be done.” In this way we will know that He hears us, and that our prayers will be answered.
“And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”
1 John 5:15 ESV
So let’s pray to know God’s will in our desires as we bring them before Him, and ask Him for only those things that are true to it. Let’s pray the things that we are not ashamed, embarrassed, or reluctant, to ask in the name of Jesus.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for having a plan for our lives, and a specific will that leads us to achieve it. Open our eyes to your desire for us, and show us how to pray, and obey, so that your will is done, and you are glorified. Help us Lord to endure those times when we obsess over our wants at the expense of yours, or we allow our inability to withstand the pain and suffering we feel in this world to preempt your will, and destroy our faith in prayer, and you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God whose will for us is perfect, and who wants not one of us to be lost. Praised be your name for hearing our prayers and teaching us your will in them, but thank you most for the unanswered prayers that realign us with you desire, and that ultimately show us your plan for our lives. Merciful are you for every lesson in prayer we receive, because in each one we come to know you better. Wash us clean in the blood of Jesus, and forgive us for our sins. Be patient with us Father as we learn to be more and more like your Son Jesus, and when we pray in His name, let it be for your glory, and your will to be done. Strengthen our understanding of your Word through your Holy Spirit, and apply it to our ability to pray as we should. In this way find us worthy to be in your presence, and seat us with Jesus at your table forevermore.
Rich Forbes