God Thinking LIII - Getting Beyond Your Self 2

"You can demand demons, but not God.

 

I am going to talk about a place that might be a bit unfamiliar

territory for some.  Bear with me.

 

We are always praying for God to do this or do that or get us out of this or get us out of that. 

We pray for God to meet our needs.

We even plead with God on behalf of others for this or that.

We certainly pray when things go wrong or when we are in trouble or when we need something.

 

And I am not saying not to continue praying for what you need and for what you think others need.  But I am saying, in addition to the kinds of prayer that I have mentioned, that you should also pray like this:

LORD, what would you have me experience, that I might see you more clearly?

Whoa! 

We’re always praying for God to get us out of this or that, when we should be praying for God to take us through this or that, because it is in the (this and that’s) of life that God shows Himself to us and works through us.  It is in our weakness that God is often revealed.

Romans 5:1-4, 1.  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

 2.  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

 3.  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

 4.  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

You have got to learn to love God and reverence Him through it all, and until you get this one truth, you will be powerless and victory-less when things aren’t just right, and there are many times when things aren’t right.

If in the seasons of bliss only you find solace and comfort in God, you have not yet found God.

LORD, what would you have me experience, that I might see you more clearly?

Excerpt from God Thinking LII - Getting Beyond Your Self by Keith C. Powell Copyright 2014