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“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
“I’ve had it with God’s promises,” a friend said. “I’ve asked Him for help numerous times and all He ever does is promise. I want Him to do something.”
“Like what?”
“Heal my body…supply my financial needs…restore a broken relationship…”
Can you relate? I sure can. Often I’ve asked God to meet a specific need. I want Him to do it soon and in a very practical way. Sometimes, He does. But sometimes He doesn’t.
A dear friend helped me get some perspective on this. “Instead of continually asking God to give you something, ask Him to make you into something. For instance, pray, ‘Make me more like Jesus. Make me more compassionate. Make me a woman of faith’.”
When we pray “Give me” we’re treating God as though He exists to serve us. Whereas, when we pray “make me” we acknowledge that He is our God and we want to serve him.
Above all else, God is interested in our eternal welfare. For that reason, He is more interested in our character than in our comfort. To conform us to Christ-like-ness takes time. It also takes adversity. The answers to “give me” are temporal, whereas the answers to “make me” are eternal.
Father, thank you that you love me enough not to give me everything I ask for. Make me into a woman of faith. I want to be more like Jesus. Amen.
Question: How can we try a different kind of prayer to ask God to make real change in us?
About the Author: Helen Grace Lescheid
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Still applicable, but isn’t this a blog of devotions for “Men”?
Jeff, point well taken! :-)
When I pray, one of the things I pray for is that God will make me the person He wants me to be. I pray for the fruit of the spirit to be seen in my life (Galations 5:22 and 23) . . . love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control). I pray I will do His will, that I will serve Him and I will reflect the love of Jesus.
I am a stroke survivor . . . .actually, a stroke VICTOR. I used to teach, but no longer can and I am home full-time now. My stroke was caused by an antibody in my blood, which only 2% of the people have. I was paralyzed and could not talk, but now I am able to work out, doing planks, push-ups and lift weights, plus, I can talk now, too. I thank the Lord for the healing. Oh, it wasn’t an overnight sensation healing. I prayed as though it depended upon the Lord and I worked as though it depended upon me. And I give Him the credit!! I had my 9 year anniversary of my stroke May 30th.