“For to live is Christ to me, and to die is gain. But if I remain in the flesh, this will be the reward of my labors; yet I cannot say which I will choose. For I am torn between the two, and wish to depart and be with Christ, which is better. Yet it is more necessary for you to remain in the body” (Philippians 1:21-24).
To avail maximum benefits of God’s will, faith is required along with devotion. Not only does his wisdom know what is best, but his love also wants what is best. We can take this to mean that God will always do what is best in any situation. Unfortunately, circumstances often involve decisions and requests on our part, such that doing the best thing requires God to control our demanding spirit, rather than giving us the blessings He would be happy to give.
There are two extremes in prayer. At one extreme, there is the person who sees God as an angry dictator who denies every request. This person needs to be encouraged to think of God as a Father who is generously inclined toward His creatures (Matthew 7:11). But at the other extreme is the person who sees God as a benevolent deity who exists only to fulfill our every wish. This person should be reminded to show reverence towards God.
Traditionally, the prayer in Matthew 6:9–13 is called the “Lord’s Prayer”, and it is certainly a prayer that reflects the Lord’s deepest desire in relation to His Father: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done.” However, there is no greater prayer from the Lord’s own heart than His anguished cry in Gethsemane: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39,42). As the Son of God, He “learned obedience” (Hebrews 5:8).
Unlike the Lord, we not only fail to submit to God’s will, but we often become so arrogant that we demand things that are completely contrary to that will. We do not know how to pray as we should. We also need help knowing what to ask for. Then again, here is an opportunity for us to learn humility. We can turn to the Lord and ask for help in our prayers. We can pray to Him to do whatever He sees best according to His wisdom.
Not what we want, but what we need,
Oh! bestow your blessings,
In mercy grant, good without asking;
Ill, although asked, deny.
(James Merrick)
Gary Henry – WordPoints.com AreYouaChristian.com
