Which Would You Prefer?
This has to do with prayer requests.
Would you prefer that your prayer be answered if it cost you your peace?
How about if it cost you your joy or relationships?
Of course, the question comes up, why would anyone pray anything that would result in losing peace, joy, and loving others?
Sadly, at least I do this all the time.
It’s because I think I know what I want — what is best for me.
I want prosperity.
I want health for myself and everyone I know and care about.
I want problems solved and the path ahead to be easy, not difficult.
I don’t want to struggle and worry and be embarrassed in front of others as my prayers go unanswered – at least in the ways I hoped they would.
Truthfully, I have this idea that if my prayers are answered in the ways I want them to that this is proof that God loves me.
Also, a believe the opposite idea which is, if my prayers go unanswered or the door shuts on my nose, it is because God is unhappy with me or worse.
This leads me to run a quick mental personal inventory.
What have I not confessed?
Where have I cut a few corners?
Think, Ben, think!
So now, let’s step back and think things through again to see if we can at least pray in healthier ways from now on.
Here is what I know absolutely.
Praying is my opportunity to connect with my Heavenly Father.
He tells me I am his child and that he is glad to be my father.
He wants our relationship to be real, honest, and practical.
But, to be healthy, it can’t be one-sided.
It can’t just be about me and what I want.
It has to ultimately be about what my heavenly father believes is best for me.
He want’s to help me grow and mature and the practical pattern he would like me to follow is that of the life of Jesus.
With this in mind, I go back to what it is I want God to do for me and include in my request what Jesus said when he was facing arrest and execution.
And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
Luke 22:41-43 (ESV)
I included God’s answer to Jesus following his request.
God answered by sending an angel.
Now, so far, I don’t believe I have ever seen a heavenly angel, but I do know a lot of earthly ones – people who care and who are willing to step into my fears and pains when necessary. Those willing to pray with me and to encourage me to keep holding on.
Prayer is more than just about my comfort or even this life. It is a way to persevere through even the darkest and toughest of times.
It is the comfort in knowing that no matter how any of my prayers are answered in the short run God is still on his throne. He will certainly bring everything to pass in ways better than I can, in any moment of difficulty, imagine.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?
It is God who justifies.
Who is to condemn?
Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.