I made a comment in my message at ZION yesterday, a question really, that might have raised a few eyebrows. I asked, “Why does the church persist in praying ‘my will be done’ when Jesus taught us to pray ‘Thy will be done’?”
Sure, a little tongue in cheek, and as much a confession as an accusation. But the truth is, a good question is one that opens the heart so that God’s Holy Spirit can invade and do His work.
I’ve plenty of examples of times when I’ve been praying for one thing while not realising I was praying against the will of God. Or other times when I’ve been praying for Him to deliver me from a trial only to discover later that very trial was part of the purposes of God to discipline me and therefore disciple me. Anyone else?
As a realignment for those gathered in church, we paused at that moment of the message and together we recited the prayer Jesus led His disciples in when they asked him, “how shall we pray?” (Luke 11:1-4). I’ve included the Lord’s prayer below for those who want to pray it.
The best example I’ve ever seen of this was my beautiful mum who struggled for many years fighting against the cancer in her body. As an intercessor for the Body of Christ, she knew how to fight against the devil and fight with the angels. Mum also knew how to petition heaven and see circumstances move. I, myself, received physical healing from her powerful prayers to a Power-filled God. And yet, when the cancer ravaged her body for the third time at age 46, she knew God was calling her home. She believed to pray for her healing was not in line with God’s will. And so, soon after, we gathered at her bedside and tearfully bid her farewell. What followed her passing was freedom for her and significant grief for us.
In contrast, King Hezekiah seemed to grizzle about his condition, “weeping bitterly,” (2 Kings 20:3) on his deathbed. The Lord changed His mind on the timeline of the King’s mortality, and he lived another 15 years! What does this show us? We should pray earnestly, knowing that God is sovereign and will answer us according to His eternal purposes.
In these examples there is no evidence of a formula. God will not be limited by rituals or expectation, and this is where the point of my challenge lay; why would we pray in line with our expectations and yet call God omniscient and omnipotent? Do we believe in a God Who is our Sovereign servant or Lord Almighty?
In a semi-confessional, debrief conversation with someone this afternoon I was also reminded that we truly can ask God for things, and He delights to bless us with answers to our prayers: James 5:16, John 5:5-9, Matt 21:22, Psalm 66:16-20.
Recently in my devotional reading I came across this proclamation of faith from Joab, the Commander of the army of mighty men of King David. This is what he said as he faced a unified army of foes before him. “Be of good courage and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His sight.” (2 Sam 10:12)
May the Lord do what is good in His sight.
I’ve decided that’s going to be my prayer; “may the Lord do what is good in His sight.”
Selah.
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THE LORD’S PRAYER. (Matt 6:9-13)
In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.