After my sermon today on Matthew 7:7-12 I had several requests for the words from an unknown author that I listed below. They are very thought provoking and not what we normally hear about prayer. We (I include myself) often want God to take care of everything for us when we pray. We desire for God to simply take away all our problems and to make life easier and more pleasurable. Listen to what Paul learned through praying for some kind of struggle in his life: “So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) God is not the big codependent God in heaven that keeps us from all struggles, trials, pain, and suffering and makes life easier for us. When we pray it is important to remember the words of Robert M. McCheyne, “God will either give you what you ask, or something far better.” (Christian Reader, Vol. 32, no. 4) God ALWAYS does what is best for us. We just do not know what that always is but God always does what is best, always! What a great promise to know that God always answers our prayers and sometimes gives us what we want but only if it is best for us. Many times He gives us far more than that for which we ask. As Max Lucado said, “Sometimes God is so touched by what He sees, He gives us what we need and not simply that for which we ask.” (Christian Reader, Vol. 32, no. 1) With this in mind I encourage you to read slowly the following words and meditate upon them and may they lead us to pray more according to God’s will.
I asked God to take away my pride, and God said no. He said it was not for him to take away, but for me to give up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole, and God said, “No, her spirit is already whole. Her body is only temporary.”
I asked God to grant me patience, and God said no. He said that patience is the byproduct of tribulation. It isn’t granted; it’s earned.
I asked God to give me happiness; God said no. He said he gives blessings; happiness is up to me.
I asked God to spare me pain, and God said no. He said I must grow on my own, but he will prune me in order to make me fruitful.
I asked God if he loved me, and God said yes. He gave me his only Son who died for me, and I will be in heaven some day because I believe.
I asked God to help me love others as much as he loves me, and God said, “Ahhh, finally! Now you have the idea.”
5 Comments
May 24, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Good word Miguel!!
One of my favorite quotes from an unknown Confederate soldier is:
“I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life;
He gave me LIFE that I might enjoy all things”
Thanks for that post. I will contemplate it tonight.
May 24, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Great quote!
May 25, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Loved this Mike, thanks! Also, awesome sermon Sunday as usual!
May 28, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Thank you for the words, the prayer is awesome and needed on this day. God bless you.
June 4, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Your writings are as thought provoking as your sermons!! I love the one about Lance.