McMama posted this about prayer today and it was too good not to share (isn't it amazing how God works?!)
http://www.mycharmingkids.net/2009/04/why-bother-praying.html
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Prayer
I have really been wrestling with prayer lately and exactly how and why we are supposed to pray. I mean, why do we pray and ask for our will when it's His will that will be done? Kind of like my kids can ask me all they want to have brownies for breakfast, they can cry and beg and plead and no way is it ever going to happen.
I've come to realize that my prayers to God have turned into a drive-through window where I place my order with him. Please do this, please do that, help me, give me etc. I think I've been missing the "with thanksgiving" and "humble" parts.
There are so many things that I am praying for right now - for my will to be done in certain situations. It's easy to change my prayers for others - ok God your will be done FOR THEM, but do my stuff my way please.
What happened to ask and you shall receive and all that good stuff? ----
This post has been stuck in "draft" mode for awhile too because I've just been kind of stuck in this area. K posted something on her blog that points out that this may not necessarily mean everything my flesh wants - it the desires of a clean, pure heart that desires God's will. Hmmm
I had a group of friends in college that we all went to church and hung out together all the time. We would all pile in the car after church discussing where we should eat for lunch. We would decide we wanted Black Eyed Pea. Well, the driver would just drive right past and when we complained, would just say "I have a better plan" and proceed to go wherever he wanted! It was so irritating!! Just today, I remembered that and it made me think of God. I can tell Him all I want that I want to eat Black Eyed Pea, but He is driving and He may have a better plan. To be honest, in the end, we always were fed, had a good time and no one was permanently damaged from not getting to pick the lunch place and there were times when we actually went to the place we wanted to go. God is the same way - He has a plan and a will that is perfect even when we may not see it the same way. What does that have to do with prayer? Well, I've realized that praying isn't like giving my wish list to God or placing my order (He knows all of it anyway), but also praying for the ability to accept His will in any situation and for peace and understanding. I don't think He minds us asking for help. There are many times that I can look back on, especially in the last 14 months and see that even though my prayers weren't specifically answered, He did have a better plan and I am so glad that He's in the driver's seat.
I've come to realize that my prayers to God have turned into a drive-through window where I place my order with him. Please do this, please do that, help me, give me etc. I think I've been missing the "with thanksgiving" and "humble" parts.
There are so many things that I am praying for right now - for my will to be done in certain situations. It's easy to change my prayers for others - ok God your will be done FOR THEM, but do my stuff my way please.
What happened to ask and you shall receive and all that good stuff? ----
This post has been stuck in "draft" mode for awhile too because I've just been kind of stuck in this area. K posted something on her blog that points out that this may not necessarily mean everything my flesh wants - it the desires of a clean, pure heart that desires God's will. Hmmm
I had a group of friends in college that we all went to church and hung out together all the time. We would all pile in the car after church discussing where we should eat for lunch. We would decide we wanted Black Eyed Pea. Well, the driver would just drive right past and when we complained, would just say "I have a better plan" and proceed to go wherever he wanted! It was so irritating!! Just today, I remembered that and it made me think of God. I can tell Him all I want that I want to eat Black Eyed Pea, but He is driving and He may have a better plan. To be honest, in the end, we always were fed, had a good time and no one was permanently damaged from not getting to pick the lunch place and there were times when we actually went to the place we wanted to go. God is the same way - He has a plan and a will that is perfect even when we may not see it the same way. What does that have to do with prayer? Well, I've realized that praying isn't like giving my wish list to God or placing my order (He knows all of it anyway), but also praying for the ability to accept His will in any situation and for peace and understanding. I don't think He minds us asking for help. There are many times that I can look back on, especially in the last 14 months and see that even though my prayers weren't specifically answered, He did have a better plan and I am so glad that He's in the driver's seat.
Fully Relying on God
My mom sent me an email about this article awhile back - I started a post on it and it has just kind of been stuck in "draft" mode. This article is an interview with a guy whose daughter was shot in a church shooting in Ft Worth several years ago. He had a couple of very interesting quotes
http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2009/mar/21/terry-mattingly/
This kind of tragedy, said Meredith, is not "something you get over with three points and a poem," a dose of scripture, a verse of "Victory in Jesus" and a proclamation that, "Everything's fine. Let's move on."
"Every day with Jesus is not sweeter than the day before," said Meredith, in a sermon that swung from tears to gospel singing to laughter. "Some days are evil. In fact, the Bible says, 'Stand that you might be able to stand in the evil day.'
"People are going to ask, 'When are you going to get over this?' You're never going to get over this, but by God's grace you're going to get through it. And God will give you joy and peace in the midst of it, in the midst of the tears and the heartache. Have you learned that? You are learning it. It's the praise you give with a broken heart that is the greatest sacrifice you can offer God."
Back in 1999, he said: "If God really loves us, if God is all powerful, why in the world did he let this happen? Why does God allow evil to seemingly abound in this world? Why Columbine? ... Why do a million and a half unborn babies have their lives snuffed out before they have a chance to breathe a breath? Why do children die of hunger daily around the world? Why is there pain? Why is there suffering? Why is there mental illness? ... The question is, 'Where is God when we hurt?'"
The reality is that there is no way to avoid suffering. Thus, the crucial test is whether believers can face trials and tribulations without sliding in despair.
"God never promised us a life without trials. As Americans, we want a carefree and happy life. We think that's God's will for our lives. Get a clue. God's will for your life is to make you into the image of his Son, and that only happens through the heartaches and trials of life."
I don't really have anything else to add except a verse that I read this morning (what a coincidence?) Mark 9:49 "For everyone will be seasoned with fire . . ." The Nelson Study Bible says this about the verse "refers to the trials and judgments that all will face - believers with trials that purify faith"
Thanks Mom!
http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2009/mar/21/terry-mattingly/
This kind of tragedy, said Meredith, is not "something you get over with three points and a poem," a dose of scripture, a verse of "Victory in Jesus" and a proclamation that, "Everything's fine. Let's move on."
"Every day with Jesus is not sweeter than the day before," said Meredith, in a sermon that swung from tears to gospel singing to laughter. "Some days are evil. In fact, the Bible says, 'Stand that you might be able to stand in the evil day.'
"People are going to ask, 'When are you going to get over this?' You're never going to get over this, but by God's grace you're going to get through it. And God will give you joy and peace in the midst of it, in the midst of the tears and the heartache. Have you learned that? You are learning it. It's the praise you give with a broken heart that is the greatest sacrifice you can offer God."
Back in 1999, he said: "If God really loves us, if God is all powerful, why in the world did he let this happen? Why does God allow evil to seemingly abound in this world? Why Columbine? ... Why do a million and a half unborn babies have their lives snuffed out before they have a chance to breathe a breath? Why do children die of hunger daily around the world? Why is there pain? Why is there suffering? Why is there mental illness? ... The question is, 'Where is God when we hurt?'"
The reality is that there is no way to avoid suffering. Thus, the crucial test is whether believers can face trials and tribulations without sliding in despair.
"God never promised us a life without trials. As Americans, we want a carefree and happy life. We think that's God's will for our lives. Get a clue. God's will for your life is to make you into the image of his Son, and that only happens through the heartaches and trials of life."
I don't really have anything else to add except a verse that I read this morning (what a coincidence?) Mark 9:49 "For everyone will be seasoned with fire . . ." The Nelson Study Bible says this about the verse "refers to the trials and judgments that all will face - believers with trials that purify faith"
Thanks Mom!
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