September 17, 2008
Be Careful
There is a lot of truth in the old maxim, "Be careful what you pray for you might get it."
I know a man who tells a delightful story. One morning, some years back, he was driving home from work and it began to rain.
The rain was making driving a little hazardous so after muttering a bit, he exclaimed "God do something about the weather!" He did! At that precise moment it began to snow instead.
He laughs now and talks about the need to be specific about how we prayer. Many times we ask God for something that in the long run wouldn’t be in our best interests.
Israel wanted a king and wouldn’t listen to God. He gave her a king and she struggled from then on.
We ask God to change someone who annoys us, when what we really need is to be asking what God wants US to learn. We ask God for plenty when we need to be learning to be content in all circumstances.
We are called to take all the things of our life before Him. We are also called to trust in Him as our Father to know what’s best.
We complain at times that He doesn’t answer our prayers. Sometimes it is a good thing that He says no.
What
causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that
battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but
you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because
you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong
motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:1-3 NIV
Have you prayed God give me a raise so I can tithe? Perhaps He’s waiting for you to be faithful with what you have first.
Have you prayed, Lord heal me and He hasn’t yet? Perhaps the timing isn’t right and He hasn’t accomplished all that needs to be done through your illness.
I’ve asked for healing of people with terminal illnesses and they died. Yet I have found that they received true healing with accepting Jesus, or reconciliation with family or comforting those around them while dying.
Many times, I’ve prayed and received a different answer than I wanted. In virtually every case when I look back, I can see how His answer was better. If you’ll excuse a pun based on an old television show "Father Knows Best."
Until
next time, keep on praying. Even if the answer you get is not the one you want
or seems to be silence, know that He is at work and He is in control.
Blessings
to you,
Darrel Mason