Sometimes, Lord, my prayers are more about me trying to convince you that my way is right rather than my asking you to show me your way. Open my heart, O Lord, to cheerfully accept your will. Lead me, so that I eagerly follow your course. Fill me with your Holy Spirit; may your will be done.
Sometimes we get what we ask for and sometimes we don’t. If we don’t, we can’t let God’s rejection cause us to lose faith. Let’s admit it, we don’t always know what is best. In fact, I rarely do. The story of King Midas is a perfect example of our lack of foresight. The King wished that everything he touched would turn to gold. Sounds great, at first, doesn’t it? And it was, until he tried to smell a rose, eat and drink or, finally, to kiss his beloved child. When God says, “No,” he may well be protecting us from ourselves and our foolish desires.
Father, please give us patience when you seem slow to answer and acceptance when you deny our prayers. May we see your infinite wisdom and your unfailing love in your response to our requests.
I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up by asking God to do His work though me. [Hudson Taylor]
If we’re walking with Jesus, we’re always going in the right direction!
Teacher God, each day’s events provide lessons in which you show us how to live. It is up to us, however, to choose what it is we learn from these experiences. Sometimes we resist you and it takes several lessons before we finally understand and accept your message. Thank you for not giving up on us; please, make us attentive to your instruction today.
Oh Lord, forgive me. I don’t even have the excuse of youth for my failings. How many times will I have to make the same mistakes before I finally learn? Be patient with me, Lord, and teach me your way. Thank you for your inexhaustible forgiveness, love and mercy. Fill me with your Spirit and lead me on your path.
Our understanding of the Bible is a bit like being at the seashore. Having an unopened Bible and only encountering it when the gospel is read at church is like gazing at the ocean and listening to the surf. If we merely glance through the Bible from time to time, we’ve dipped our toes into the sea, but we’re barely wet. When we consider just a few verses, we’re like swimmers. We’ve gotten wet, but we’re still just skimming over the surface. When we actually study God’s holy word, when we examine each verse in its context, attempt to make sense out of it, and try to understand how it applies to our lives, we’re like divers who get beneath the surface of the sea. It is the divers who get to see the vivid colors, the fabulous sea creatures, the coral reefs and even discover hidden treasure. There is treasure to be found in God’s word. Let’s do a little diving today!
