I've been praying all week for no rain. I wake up this morning, and it's pouring "cats and dogs". I guess I'm no Elijah. We got into a little discussion yesterday at staff meeting about prayer and the will of God. I think too many times my prayers are for God to come through on what I want...my plan...get God onto my agenda...what I think is best. Prayer is actually seeking God, determining His will, and getting onto His agenda. Ultimately, God has the best plan and the perfect timing.
Does this mean we should not ask for things? NO. Matthew 7:7 says that we should ask. And Philippians 4:6 says that we should pray about EVERYTHING. But ultimately, if it's according to God's will, He hears us and answers us. If not, then we have to trust that He has the best plan.
God does promise that He will answer our prayers. It is not always the answer we are looking for. And it is not always in "our perfect timing". I think the Bible is clear that God is on a different time table than us. I doubt that I will ever wrap my mind around the concept of eternity. Well, enough rambling about prayer and the will of God. Please feel free to add to the discussion.
"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
About Me
- Jonathan Howes
- I serve as Lead Pastor of Graystone Church in Loganville, GA.
Graystone Church
5 comments:
wow...i so needed to read this today. my whole life the last 2 yrs has been t struggle between praying and being honest about what I want, but praying for God's perfect will & timing too...
thank you for your honesty & reminder!
Father...you know our needs and you know our hearts. We hope, we pray and we trust. Please help us for Your glory.
Psalm 37:4
Love that!! So many times you pray for yourself as well as for others and you pray for you want and even others will ask you to pray that this will happen or that will happen. But, it has so much to do with our hearts changing and like you said getting our hearts and minds focused on HIS agenda! Good Stuff! Thanks Jonathan! :)
I needed to hear this too. I have been having a very hard time with week. Thank you for bringing this up.
A good friend of mine says that "prayer is not about you changing God's mind, but about Him preparing you for His answer."
Dale R
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