I used to think that this verse meant if I worshipped God and tried to please Him that I could pray for whatever I wanted and He would give it to me. It was kind of like putting the right coins in the vending machine and I'd get what I wanted. I couldn't understand for a long time why God didn't seem to answer my prayers. After all, I was doing all the right things.
God has given me a new perspective. Delighting myself in the Lord isn't a matter of doing all the right things to please Him. It's a matter of hungering and thirsting after Him, getting into His Word and digging for what He wants me to know and letting it change my heart. As I let His Word change my heart, His desires become my desires. While I may still pray for things that He does not give me, my prayers become different. I am praying for His will to be done, knowing that if He doesn't answer my prayers the way I might hope, I know that He is answering in the way that is best for me or others spiritually and in this way, His desires become my desires.
He is a loving Heavenly Father who desires the best for his children. He desires that we be conformed to His image in Christian character and love. His ways work best to accomplish that and often it is through our weakness that He is able to change our hearts and make us more like Him.
Dear Father, Thank You for this insight into Your ways. It's hard to remember in the heat of the battle, so remind me often of how You work. Amen.
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