Praise & Pray

The year is coming to an end, and many are fine-tuning their New Year's Resolutions. They have all manner of plans that they will put into effect on January 1. Some Christians may be tempted to think they can tell God what they want instead of asking Him for what they're looking for. After all, many claim to have done such and found success, but I caution us all to pay attention to the way we approach God with our needs and wants in this season.

Jesus taught believers to ask so that they could receive (Matthew 7:7). Notice, He didn't teach that they can dictate to God what He should do or how He should do things. Many of us forget this and may think we can give God commands. However, I want to encourage us to prayerfully ask for what we want, but do not tell God what we want in a way that suggests we can dictate to Him.

Our relationship with the Lord is to be one of a parent to a child. Good children honor their parents with respect (Ephesians 6:1-3). They don't control, domineer, or manipulate them to get what they want. Such behavior is satanic, and it is endorsed by New Age practitioners and witches, but not endorsed by Jesus Christ. He instead taught believers to live obediently, be prayerful, and that God would answer.

God's children, therefore, never need to apply satanic tactics with Him or anyone else. God loves us and wants to give us more than we could ask for or imagine. The key is to work on being obedient and teachable. As we do this, our relationship with the Lord flourishes, and our petitions are increasingly answered. When this is the case, we never need to dictate or tell Him what to do for us. We'll realize that He's answering prayers before we get to pray (Isaiah 65:24).

Technically speaking, we can 'tell' God what we want, but our attitude is crucial as we seek His help in our lives. He wants us to humbly come to Him so He listens as we share our every need and want (Micah 6:8). He wants us to hear Him as He points out which prayers He will fulfill and which ones He knows aren't best for us. He also wants us to stay a little while longer so He can express what He wants for us, independent of what we want from Him.

The Lord is not an errand boy. He doesn't take directions from anyone. Yes, the Bible reveals that human beings have impacted His behavior, but note what sort of people those were. Abraham could intercede on behalf of Sodom & Gomorrah because he was righteous. God also saw him as a friend. Moses could stop God from wiping out the Israelites at Mount Sinai for their idolatry because he was humble and pleaded on their behalf (Exodus 32).

These individuals and others like them showed great deference to God. They walked in the fear of the Lord. Regardless of their relationship with the Lord, they didn't think they could tell Him what to do, and they didn't dare. Even Jesus always humbled Himself before the Lord. Philippians 2:6 - Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to (NLT). He never told God what to do but took orders instead.

And we should do the same. Further, as we humbly pray for the things we are hoping for, we should be humble enough to ask the Lord what He wants from us in the new year. We should pray to know what His vision is for our future. It is time to desire His plans for us and not be afraid to put our desires to the side while prioritizing His. After all, His plans for us are good if we just let Him have His way (Jeremiah 29:11).

I pray that we will practice humbly asking the Lord and not dictating what we want to Him. I pray that in this season, when so many are focused on what they want for the future, we seek out what God wants from us and for us. I pray that we will allow His Holy Spirit to guide how we pray and even what we ask for. As the Lord reveals His desires, I pray we will tap into His plan and purpose for our lives and be doubly blessed. IJMN Amen.

As you await fellowship, consider reading the Altar Call below and the following previous P&P messages:

1. What's Your New Year's Resolution?

2. Review Your Year With Gratitude

3. Self Ambition (Philippians 2:3-4)

4. Our Godly Resolutions for 2022

5. Acknowledge God

6. God's Simple Instructions

7. Selfless

8. Appeal to The God of Compassion

9. Your Toolkit for the Promised Land

10. Did You Ask God First?

11. Put God's Concerns First (God's Concerns Series 1 - Mark 8:33)

12. How To Approach God

13. What Would God See When He Looks At Your Heart?

14. Be About The Father's Business

15. God's Word, His Plan & Spirit

16. Topic: Submit, Submission

17. Topic: Humility