“Do not have as your motive the desire to be known as a praying man … Have no other motive than to know your Father in heaven …
Prayer is not simply getting things from God … Prayer is getting into perfect communion with God. If the Son of God is formed in us by regeneration, He will press forward in front of our common sense and change our attitude to the things about which we pray.
“Everyone that *asketh* receiveth.” We pray pious blether, our will is not in it, and then we say God does not answer; we’ve never *asked* for anything. “Ye shall ask what ye *will,” said Jesus. Asking means our wil lis in it … But remember that we have to ask of God things that are in keeping with the God whom Jesus Christ revealed.” -Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, September 16.
I get hung up on what to ask for. Am I asking for something just to make me comfortable? Worse, am I asking for a sin?! What if I ask for something and receive it, but God had so much better planned? “One in the hand is better than two in the bush”…unless we’re talking of God’s blessing of abundance.
I seem to finally be getting around to asking for specifics, both tangible and intangible–and then tack on the end, “Your will be done.” I’ve also started a new line that I like to remind myself with” Your plan, Your timing, Your will, Your glory.
See, I know that God doesn’t need me. He’s not going to change in any way, shape or form if I don’t pray. He loves me so much, though, that He has given instructions of me that give *me* a better life.
So I will put more effort into asking for specifics, but I will also keep remind myself that if given the choice of my wants vs. God’s will, I always pick God’s will–His way is so much better! (Not easier, not shorter, but better).