ANYBODY THERE?
FOR ME, ONE OF THE BIGGEST BARRIERS TO FAITH is the unanswered prayer. My husband tells me all prayers are answered, but, he adds, sometimes the answer is one I don’t like—NO. While he may be right, there are some times when I’m tempted to ask if anyone’s there. That’s one of the difficulties of believing in a God I can’t see.
I’VE READ TOO that part of my problem may be that I haven’t learned to align my desires with those of God. If that’s the case, I don’t need to wonder whose desire will be honored.
IN MATTHEW 18:19, Jesus told the apostles that whatever two or three of them asked for in His name would be granted by his Father in heaven. Considering the saintly lives the apostles lived afterwards, that makes sense. If I expect to get the prayer results they were promised, I may have to rethink how closely I follow His commands to love God and love neighbor.
IN HIS book, PRAYER, DOES IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?, Philip Yancey recounts a “Prayer Checklist” recommended by David Mains. Reading it, I realized how far off the mark I often am. See if you fare better:
1. What do I really want? Am I being specific, or am I just rambling about nothing in particular?
2. Can God grant this request? Or is it against God’s nature to do so?
3. Have I done my part? Or am I praying to lose weight when I haven’t dieted?
4. How is my relationship with God? Are we on speaking terms?
5. Who will get the credit if my request is granted? Do I have God’s interest in mind?
6. Do I really want my prayer answered? What would happened if I actually did get that girlfriend back?
GOD WON’T GRANT EVERY PRAYER, no matter how many of us gather in His name to petition. He can’t put us in charge of running the world. And I can think of several instances where I could find far more than two or three fellow pray-ers who want what I want, misguided though it might be.
SO MAYBE INSTEAD OF ASKING if anybody’s there, I should be asking how often I make myself available . . . how often I’m listening to Him. Especially when I don’t like the answer. Because like Abraham Lincoln, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day” . . . and I have arisen a better woman.
You’re blessed. Be a blessing!
I’VE READ TOO that part of my problem may be that I haven’t learned to align my desires with those of God. If that’s the case, I don’t need to wonder whose desire will be honored.
IN MATTHEW 18:19, Jesus told the apostles that whatever two or three of them asked for in His name would be granted by his Father in heaven. Considering the saintly lives the apostles lived afterwards, that makes sense. If I expect to get the prayer results they were promised, I may have to rethink how closely I follow His commands to love God and love neighbor.
IN HIS book, PRAYER, DOES IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?, Philip Yancey recounts a “Prayer Checklist” recommended by David Mains. Reading it, I realized how far off the mark I often am. See if you fare better:
1. What do I really want? Am I being specific, or am I just rambling about nothing in particular?
2. Can God grant this request? Or is it against God’s nature to do so?
3. Have I done my part? Or am I praying to lose weight when I haven’t dieted?
4. How is my relationship with God? Are we on speaking terms?
5. Who will get the credit if my request is granted? Do I have God’s interest in mind?
6. Do I really want my prayer answered? What would happened if I actually did get that girlfriend back?
GOD WON’T GRANT EVERY PRAYER, no matter how many of us gather in His name to petition. He can’t put us in charge of running the world. And I can think of several instances where I could find far more than two or three fellow pray-ers who want what I want, misguided though it might be.
SO MAYBE INSTEAD OF ASKING if anybody’s there, I should be asking how often I make myself available . . . how often I’m listening to Him. Especially when I don’t like the answer. Because like Abraham Lincoln, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day” . . . and I have arisen a better woman.
You’re blessed. Be a blessing!
Labels: faith barrier, God's desire, God's interest, God's nature, unanswered prayer
posted by Chronic Hope at 3:53 PM
1 Comments:
Whether anybody's there or not, it certainly helps to do your own part and eliminate recrimination. Deterioration, "erosion" and decrepitude -- even disease, I can understand. But somebody wishing those things on me? Nope. I'm not going to go there. I hope I can just meet the challenge of doing my best on my behalf.
And on behalf of those I love.
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