
I sat last night over pizza and salad with a friend discussing whether God hears us. But, most importantly does He answer.
1 John 5:14 saysโฆ
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. (NIV)
โAccording to His will.โ What does this mean? I get that it says it, but what does this mean to my life and specifically what God has for me? What should I pray?
This line reminds me of another portion of scripture found in Matthew 6.
This, then, is how you should pray: โโโOur Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. โโ
~Matthewโฌ โญ6:9-13โฌ โญNIVโฌโฌ
โYour will be done.โ What a powerful place to pray. What if instead of our wishes and our desires, we prayed for Godโs will to be done? What would that look like for you? I know for me in comes from place of distrust. I donโt mean to. But, itโs hard. My Christ-following heart wants to know that God has my best interest at heart, that he knows whatโs best for me.
But, my mind has doubts. How could He know? And, my mind screams, โBut I want this, Daddy!โ
My daughter wants a smartphone. She is about to turn 11 and has been talking about getting a phone since she was five years old. My husband and I have consistently answered โNoโ since then with comments such as โYouโre too young.โ, โYou donโt need one.โ, and โWho would you call?โ
She doesnโt care how much we dissuade her. In her heart, she is worthy of a smartphone.
So what does this mean with our relationship to God? Is this the โKeep asking, seeking and knockingโ scripture in Matthew 7? Is this the widow who kept bugging the judge until he finally said โYES!โ just to keep her out of his hair? I donโt know either. But, it sure made me think!
Jesus says to pray for Godโs will. Then he says to keep asking seeking and knocking and bugging and annoying and persisting and picking and acting like a duck on a June bug.
I am not saying there is an inconsistency here! That is quite the opposite. He knows what we want before we ask. (Matthew 6). But, I feel in all this God wants to open up a conversation. A conversation of how we really feel. A conversation of hopes and dreams; of wants and desires.
He wants us to TALK WITH HIM! And, He wants to talk with US!
God wants us to make Him an important friend. Do you tell your bestie what you want in life, or do you keep it bottled up tightly inside with the cork on and the wrapping still around the bottle? Okay. Maybe some people do, but for the most part, we are quick to share what we want in life–or what we donโt want–to our closest confidants.
What are your desires? What has God planted in your heart? Are they coming true? Or, have you not popped the cork?
Today, I challenge you to talk to God and pop the cork on your dreams and desires. Or, chat with Him about a situation that you see happening that youโd like a different outcome in. We all have them. You are not alone.
What’s your cork? What’s your bottle? It’s time to get that corkscrew out!
My other, maybe even bigger question for the day is, “What if Godโs will is ‘No.’?” But, I feel thatโs for another post.
I’m by no means an expert. No one is an expert on God’s word except, frankly, God! But like He says, He wants to be keep asking, seeking and knocking. And, I plan to do just that!
Today, Iโm going to watch for Godโs blessings both big and small. Is it hard for you to see when God is blessing you? Please share in the comments. I’d love to know, too!
May God bless you richly today and may you discover something new about you and Him.
Be blessed!
~DMM
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