Beside The Well
Prayer sometimes feels like a rollercoaster ride. We are to pray in faith, believing, nothing wavering, but we feel jerked around wondering how things will work out. We are instructed to ask what we will and it will be given, but the ride isn’t as smooth as we want. There are times when burdens and confusion send us on nosedives until we don’t even know what words to say. Sometimes it feels no one hears our screams for help, while at other times the heavens open and we know we are securely buckled in the throne room.
We are warned that being at odds with others will hinder our prayers, but we must continue to pray about our relationships. We are to pray without ceasing, but how do we find the time? We can pray and pray about one situation and seemingly see nothing happen, then pray for something else, and see an immediate answer.
We pray with one image in mind of how we think things will work out and then God changes the whole dynamic into something we never dreamed of. We can pray for something and forget we had prayed about it. Then, when God answers that prayer, we are astounded He remembered when we had long forgotten. It can leave you with your head spinning.
Personally, I have never figured it out. It is unlikely that I will! But here’s the thing I have understood—God wants me to pray. He has given prayer as a weapon. Used in obedience and faith, it can move mountains and send the Devil running. I haven’t moved any mountains lately, have you? But that does not detract from the possibility!
Lately, I have come to realise some more things about prayer. God will always answer according to the counsel of His own will (Ephesians 1:11). God’s plan is all-encompassing; mine is limited. And I have come to learn that He doesn’t answer prayer haphazardly; He answers purposefully.
It is interesting to meditate on that crazy verse in Proverbs 16:33—“The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.”
Why do I say it is crazy? Well, the verse is talking about the manner in which men used to make decisions. They cast a lot—rolled dice—or drew straws! But though their method was chance, God was the one directing the draw. He was in charge of the whole disposing. Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.”
Our God in heaven knows how things are designed to work out. Ours is to come to Him in prayer with our petitions and humble our hearts to accept His answer—His disposing of all matters, and He doesn’t work by chance.
My prayer life is less stressful since I stopped looking for some lucky charm or set of magic words that will move God to work according to my will. Instead, I am learning to watch my Father work around me, and I am enjoying the ride!
We are warned that being at odds with others will hinder our prayers, but we must continue to pray about our relationships. We are to pray without ceasing, but how do we find the time? We can pray and pray about one situation and seemingly see nothing happen, then pray for something else, and see an immediate answer.
We pray with one image in mind of how we think things will work out and then God changes the whole dynamic into something we never dreamed of. We can pray for something and forget we had prayed about it. Then, when God answers that prayer, we are astounded He remembered when we had long forgotten. It can leave you with your head spinning.
Personally, I have never figured it out. It is unlikely that I will! But here’s the thing I have understood—God wants me to pray. He has given prayer as a weapon. Used in obedience and faith, it can move mountains and send the Devil running. I haven’t moved any mountains lately, have you? But that does not detract from the possibility!
Lately, I have come to realise some more things about prayer. God will always answer according to the counsel of His own will (Ephesians 1:11). God’s plan is all-encompassing; mine is limited. And I have come to learn that He doesn’t answer prayer haphazardly; He answers purposefully.
It is interesting to meditate on that crazy verse in Proverbs 16:33—“The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.”
Why do I say it is crazy? Well, the verse is talking about the manner in which men used to make decisions. They cast a lot—rolled dice—or drew straws! But though their method was chance, God was the one directing the draw. He was in charge of the whole disposing. Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.”
Our God in heaven knows how things are designed to work out. Ours is to come to Him in prayer with our petitions and humble our hearts to accept His answer—His disposing of all matters, and He doesn’t work by chance.
My prayer life is less stressful since I stopped looking for some lucky charm or set of magic words that will move God to work according to my will. Instead, I am learning to watch my Father work around me, and I am enjoying the ride!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSorry Gail, I thought my name would appear on the comment.
DeleteAnd now my comment is removed. I wrote : Thank you, Gail, for sharing this. All I know is that praying is constantly learning. We will be amazed at all the answers (unknown for us now)to our prayers, when we are in heaven. For now, we keep on praying.
DeleteThank you, Michele, for the encouragement!
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