12/01/2024
My devotional reading today was titled "God's Will be Done" by Pastor E. M. Bounds. As I pray each day I lift up my desires, needs, and those of others, before God, but I also wrap those requests in a plea that His will be done in regards to them. Our unending prayers are the very substance of our spiritual lives, earthly lives, and indeed our humanity. They encapsulate all those things we seek and long for in holiness and lift them before our Heavenly Father, but sometimes we fall short in the godliness of our desires, or remain blind to the consequences of our petition. It is for this reason that Jesus has taught us to pray "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven". God's will is perfect.
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
I think about all the times when I have prayed repeatedly for something only to feel as though God has turned a deaf ear to me. Then, later I come to see that the ultimate outcome of His simple word "no" had saved me from some larger harm that I could not have predicted... or that He had provided me with an even greater blessing. Have you ever prayed to be relieved from suffering only to have it come after receiving some amazing insight into God, or a blessing of the spirit, or an advancement of your relationship with Him, that you would not have experienced otherwise?
One lesson that we receive in times such as this is humility. There is a difference between praying with authority, and praying as though you have the authority. Even Jesus said that He had no authority, Listen to His words…
"I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”
John 5:30
Then he later reiterated this in John 6:38:
“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”
For all that we think we are, and in as much as we feel we are deserving... We are nothing outside the will of God. We are lost to ourselves if we can’t see the truth in this.
So, today as we pray, let’s remember to ask God that His will be done concerning our prayers. If we do this then we will remain safe in His promise of giving us what we pray for, and we will find that what the Father gives us, His children, will be far greater than anything we could have possibly imagined... Even when His answer is silence, or "no".
Prayer:
Thank you Father for giving us what we pray for in the name of Jesus, and teaching us through Him to always pray that your will be done… not ours. Father, we thank you for hearing our prayers and leading us to understand your will for us by the revelation of your Holy Spirit. We thank you for watching over us and protecting us from my own human frailties and the wants that spring from them. Lord, you are a loving God and your will is good and beyond reproach. We surrender our desires to you and ask that you teach us to be more like Jesus in each instance... allowing us to feel your will, even before our prayers are lifted up. Yet, if by our will our prayers go stray, open our eyes and give us understanding, and if not understanding... then an unwavering trust in you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who gives us only good gifts, and who plucks righteousness from every prayer we pray. Holy are you who hears our will in prayer, and then teaches us by your Spirit what is truly good, right, and perfect in your eyes. Help us Father to pray as we should, and to never neglect the words “your will be done” as we offer you our prayers. In this way our will is surrendered to yours, and our trust is placed perfectly in you alone. Forgive us Holy Father for those times when we argue for our will to be done over yours, and show us your mercy and grace as you gently redirect us, and lead us into what is right. You alone know the beginning from the end, and see beyond this world into eternity. Our eyes see only to the boundaries of creation, and so often this limitation guide our desires wrongly in prayer. We pray for the life of a child, seeing death here as the end, and our mourning as hopelessness, but you Father see the loss of a child like you saw yours in Jesus… lovingly, and filled with hope. When He said “It is finished” that was not the end, but only the end here on earth. He is resurrected, and has ascended to sit at your right hand. Our children’s lives, like our own, do not end at the border of creation, but live joyfully and peacefully on with you forevermore. This is your promise to us, and it is present in the promise of answered prayer as well. Praised be your name Father, for you are always the giver of perfect gifts, and bless us, even in our times of mourning and heartbreak. Give us rest today Lord God, and let us be at peace in you. We pray these things today as always… that your will be done, and you glorified.
In our joy and expectation we pray as Jesus has taught us… and all who believe will say…Amen!
“Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.””
Matthew 6:9-10 ESV
“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me[a] anything in my name, I will do it.”
John 14:13-14 ESV
“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
James 1:16-18 ESV
Rich Forbes