MIND WHAT YOU PRAY FOR
A popular everyday expression admonishes us to “Be careful what you wish for.” You may or may not have heard it before, but I have. And thinking of it, I feel there is great wisdom in that statement when it concerns the prayers we offer to our Heavenly Father.
Of course, each time we pray, we mean well for ourselves and others. We may have the right intentions, but do we actually gauge the specifics (i.e. the when-where-how-and-why) of the response God may choose to answer us with?
Often times we pray to be more patient. We pray to love our enemies. We ask God to help us forgive. And we seek to grow our faith. All very noble prayers.
Yet it is not wrong to say we often make these requests when we are feeling strong, and more at peace with our situations and surroundings. We fail to consider that God could honor our prayers at a time and place that will really test us – greatly.
Is God simply answering your prayer to grow your faith and trust in Him? You are deeply hurt, heart-broken with tears streaming down your face and you now want to look upward to question God – “Why?” Now wait a minute, maybe you should remember how you prayed to be able to easily forgive. And when you are forced to endure a circumstance or situation for the umpteenth time, maybe you need to recall when you asked for grace to be more patient.
I think some of the very things we ask God to take out of our lives may be there because He put them there to answer our own prayer requests. They are there for our good. It doesn’t feel that way when we are uncomfortable or hurting, but it’s true. And often when we are on the other side of “it” we can see just how much we gained through the “hard” experience.
I do not often deal with my weaknesses and insecurities, as I ought to. But I know I have told God to help me become a better child of His, more obedient to His Spirit's leading and grace to trust Him completely at ALL times without wavering. I want to grow my faith and I am tired of falling back into my weaknesses.
I have asked Him to give me strength and courage and to help me become a worthy vessel and warrior. How better to do that than to put me in the battle? How can my strength or courage grow if it’s not tested? You see what I mean?
Ponder these verses of Scripture:
“Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.
When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed. Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.” (Ecclesiastes 5:1-6)
“When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you. But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin to you. That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.” (Deuteronomy 23:21-23)
“Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.” (Numbers 30:1-2 (also read v.3-16)
CONCLUSION
It is not an easy “pill” to swallow, but I would prefer to go through the “hard” experience and become a stronger, better person than not go through anything at all.
I know and understand it may be difficult to say this during the moments of pressure, but if you do have this understanding, you will appreciate what you learnt when you come out on the other side.
I pray and hope that instead of lashing out at God and asking Him, “Why?” when we face challenges and difficulties, we will remember that He may simply just be placing something in our lives because of our own earlier request(s)
Also read: Articles on prayers and fasting
A popular everyday expression admonishes us to “Be careful what you wish for.” You may or may not have heard it before, but I have. And thinking of it, I feel there is great wisdom in that statement when it concerns the prayers we offer to our Heavenly Father.
Of course, each time we pray, we mean well for ourselves and others. We may have the right intentions, but do we actually gauge the specifics (i.e. the when-where-how-and-why) of the response God may choose to answer us with?
Often times we pray to be more patient. We pray to love our enemies. We ask God to help us forgive. And we seek to grow our faith. All very noble prayers.
Yet it is not wrong to say we often make these requests when we are feeling strong, and more at peace with our situations and surroundings. We fail to consider that God could honor our prayers at a time and place that will really test us – greatly.
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| Mary Magdalene by Ary Scheffer (1795–1858). Image credit: Wikipedia |
Have You Considered This In Your Situation?
Are you facing any challenging situation right now? Is (or are) there issues you are asking God to take out of your life now? Maybe you should first pause, take a deep breath and consider the next paragraph.Is God simply answering your prayer to grow your faith and trust in Him? You are deeply hurt, heart-broken with tears streaming down your face and you now want to look upward to question God – “Why?” Now wait a minute, maybe you should remember how you prayed to be able to easily forgive. And when you are forced to endure a circumstance or situation for the umpteenth time, maybe you need to recall when you asked for grace to be more patient.
I think some of the very things we ask God to take out of our lives may be there because He put them there to answer our own prayer requests. They are there for our good. It doesn’t feel that way when we are uncomfortable or hurting, but it’s true. And often when we are on the other side of “it” we can see just how much we gained through the “hard” experience.
I do not often deal with my weaknesses and insecurities, as I ought to. But I know I have told God to help me become a better child of His, more obedient to His Spirit's leading and grace to trust Him completely at ALL times without wavering. I want to grow my faith and I am tired of falling back into my weaknesses.
I have asked Him to give me strength and courage and to help me become a worthy vessel and warrior. How better to do that than to put me in the battle? How can my strength or courage grow if it’s not tested? You see what I mean?
Ponder these verses of Scripture:
“Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.
When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed. Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.” (Ecclesiastes 5:1-6)
“When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you. But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin to you. That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.” (Deuteronomy 23:21-23)
“Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.” (Numbers 30:1-2 (also read v.3-16)
CONCLUSION
It is not an easy “pill” to swallow, but I would prefer to go through the “hard” experience and become a stronger, better person than not go through anything at all.
I know and understand it may be difficult to say this during the moments of pressure, but if you do have this understanding, you will appreciate what you learnt when you come out on the other side.
I pray and hope that instead of lashing out at God and asking Him, “Why?” when we face challenges and difficulties, we will remember that He may simply just be placing something in our lives because of our own earlier request(s)
Also read: Articles on prayers and fasting
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