Prayer

“Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.” Psalm 119:76

We often get confused when we pray. In our confusion, we forget who we are and what is our relationship with God. God is not our servant to come, go and do at our bidding. If that were so, what a disaster our lives would be. We are not wise enough to know what is best for us. If God was subject to our bidding, divine government would be subject to man’s erring wisdom and the consequence would be undesirable, even disastrous consequences. Paul said, “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? God is wise.” [1 Corinthians 1:20] Our knowledge is limited to what has happened and what is happening but God knows no such limits. Therefore, our attitude in prayer should pattern itself after that of the Lord Jesus. He taught us to pray, “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” [Matthew 6:10] and He prayed “O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done” [Matthew 26:42]. It is not an attitude of resignation but one of submission to a benevolent God who does not act arbitrarily. God always acts in accordance to His nature.

We need to recognize that He is God and we are His servants. As His servants, our obligation is to know and do the will of God. What He allows may be difficult, painful but is always designed for our good and His glory. Our response to God is twofold. One, obedience that flows from our love for Him and two, worship that flows from our realization that as God He knows what is best. “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” [Job 1:20 – 22]

"I used to pray that God would do this or that. Now I pray that God will make His will known to me."
                                                                                                                                                  [Mme. Chiang Kai-Shek]