We had a conversation today about presumptuous prayer and a tendency among some to decree and declare a pile of stuff that doesn’t materialise.
Faith is interesting. Jesus does say if we have mustard seed faith, we can tell the mountain to move and it will move. Some seem to take that up to mean if they have the faith they can go around making grand pronouncements of sensational activities and my faith must bring to pass.
It turns what Jesus talks about into a brash, arrogance-dressed-as-aasertive style of ‘Christianity’ that bears little resemblance to the lives of the Early Church and even Jesus Himself.
There are those, however, who struggle with when God doesn’t answer prayers at the speed and in the manner they desire. Their suffering appears interminable and no relief in sight.
It’s not up to God to explain His reasons for why things. But He does encourage us to make it our point of duty to seek His will. Often I detect we are guilty of putting our will first. Sometimes we grab a few verses and ‘stand’ on them as the promises of God without genuinely enquiring of God. Not seeking Him for His will.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
When the famous ‘faith chapter’ is considered the crux of the matter is discovered when we diligently seek after Him. Not putting my agenda first, but getting his first.
Paul also states how important it is to pursue the perfect and acceptable of Him. It’s the whole purpose of the renewed mind. The progress in transformation is only as effective as our commitment to His will.
In a world where various agendas look to take precedence, whether financial comfort, vocational stability, family security, church building fund or whatever, those followers of Christ are marked by this trait.
They seek to follow God’s will over all else.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 