A Dangerous Prayer When We Want Something…
What if, every time we wanted something (even good things),
we first prayed to God to help us be satisfied/content without having it?
.
(I’m not saying that it is wrong to want/desire,
(I’m not saying that it is wrong to want/desire,
and I’m not saying that it is wrong to pray to God to give us what we want/desire.
I’m merely posing the question–what if we responded to our wants/desires
with a different kind of request of God?)
.
God would, over time, free us from the prison of
God would, over time, free us from the prison of
.
a. being happy only when we get what we want and
a. being happy only when we get what we want and
b. spending large quantities of time/energy/money trying to get what we want
.
and release us into the lush, open spaciousness (freedom!) of
and release us into the lush, open spaciousness (freedom!) of
.
c. being happy whether we get it or not,
c. being happy whether we get it or not,
d. spending large quantities of time/energy/money receiving what God is freely offering us (i.e. what HE wants us to have!), and
e. spending large quantities of time/energy/money gently and lovingly inviting others to receive what God is freely offering them (i.e. what HE wants them to have)!
.
How different would our lives look–and FEEL!–
How different would our lives look–and FEEL!–
if we asked God to teach us c, d, and e above instead of focusing on a and b?
.
This is exactly what Paul writes of in Philippians 4:11-13 (italics)
This is exactly what Paul writes of in Philippians 4:11-13 (italics)
(my thoughts in brackets):
.
“I am not saying this because I am in need
“I am not saying this because I am in need
.
[I’m thankful for the gift you sent me not because I need it but because you are now practicing what it means to sacrificially give–you are learning to REALLY LOVE and are growing closer to Jesus as a result of practicing what He has been teaching you!!!],
[I’m thankful for the gift you sent me not because I need it but because you are now practicing what it means to sacrificially give–you are learning to REALLY LOVE and are growing closer to Jesus as a result of practicing what He has been teaching you!!!],
.
for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances
for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances
.
[I have learned how to let Jesus hold the leash of my emotions (how I feel)
[I have learned how to let Jesus hold the leash of my emotions (how I feel)
instead of allowing my circumstances to hold the leash of my emotions].
.
12 I know what it is to be in need,
12 I know what it is to be in need,
.
[God has allowed me to reach times of desperate physical, spiritual, emotional, relational, and financial need because walking through such painful valleys is the only way to learn to be joyful in such valleys, just as the only way to learn to build a fire in cold/damp/miserable weather is to actually be in cold/damp/miserable weather!]
[God has allowed me to reach times of desperate physical, spiritual, emotional, relational, and financial need because walking through such painful valleys is the only way to learn to be joyful in such valleys, just as the only way to learn to build a fire in cold/damp/miserable weather is to actually be in cold/damp/miserable weather!]
.
and I know what it is to have plenty
and I know what it is to have plenty
.
[God has allowed me to reach times of physical, spiritual, emotional, relational, and financial abundance (though oftentimes I didn’t really notice how blessed I was/how much I had been given), but not for extended periods because such ‘mountain tops,’ while pleasurable in many ways, have their own dangers–the higher we are the farther we can fall if we are not careful. The more intense the blessing, the easier it is to be addicted to the blessing instead of the Blesser, the more likely we are to make an idol out of the gift instead of worshiping the Giver].
[God has allowed me to reach times of physical, spiritual, emotional, relational, and financial abundance (though oftentimes I didn’t really notice how blessed I was/how much I had been given), but not for extended periods because such ‘mountain tops,’ while pleasurable in many ways, have their own dangers–the higher we are the farther we can fall if we are not careful. The more intense the blessing, the easier it is to be addicted to the blessing instead of the Blesser, the more likely we are to make an idol out of the gift instead of worshiping the Giver].
.
I have learned
I have learned
.
[it takes time, it is not ‘naturally’ understood, it must be taught to us by God Himself]
[it takes time, it is not ‘naturally’ understood, it must be taught to us by God Himself]
.
the secret
the secret
.
[it isn’t obvious–it must be sought after, pursued, discovered; there are no spiritual “8 minute abs”]
[it isn’t obvious–it must be sought after, pursued, discovered; there are no spiritual “8 minute abs”]
.
of being content
of being content
.
[“The person who has God and everything else has no more than the person who only has God” (C.S. Lewis)]
[“The person who has God and everything else has no more than the person who only has God” (C.S. Lewis)]
.
in any and every situation,
in any and every situation,
.
[praising God for Who He is–which never changes–instead of only praising Him for the what He gives (e.g. pleasant circumstances)–which often does change]
[praising God for Who He is–which never changes–instead of only praising Him for the what He gives (e.g. pleasant circumstances)–which often does change]
.
whether well fed or hungry,
whether well fed or hungry,
.
[Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him Who sent Me and to finish His work” (John 4:34);
[Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him Who sent Me and to finish His work” (John 4:34);
Jesus also said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God'” (Matthew 4:4).]
.
whether living in plenty or in want
whether living in plenty or in want
.
[no matter what we might have or not have on the outside, we are still ALIVE through faith in Jesus Christ! The Author of life lives in us if we have received Him as our Savior! That is why Jesus said, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). We don’t need stuff or pleasant circumstances in order to live; we don’t need a “what” in order to live, we need The “Who” in order to live–JESUS!]
[no matter what we might have or not have on the outside, we are still ALIVE through faith in Jesus Christ! The Author of life lives in us if we have received Him as our Savior! That is why Jesus said, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). We don’t need stuff or pleasant circumstances in order to live; we don’t need a “what” in order to live, we need The “Who” in order to live–JESUS!]
.
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength”
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength”
.
[it is only through Jesus–and DEFINITELY NOT through my own strength, faithfulness, obedience, goodness, accomplishments, etc.–that I can be content/joyful/happy without getting what I want. For more on this verse, please click HERE].
[it is only through Jesus–and DEFINITELY NOT through my own strength, faithfulness, obedience, goodness, accomplishments, etc.–that I can be content/joyful/happy without getting what I want. For more on this verse, please click HERE].
.
I love this anecdote from Eugene Peterson:
I love this anecdote from Eugene Peterson:
.
“A Benedictine monk announced the following to guests
“A Benedictine monk announced the following to guests
having a weekend retreat at a monastery in Italy:
.
‘If you find that there is something that you need,
‘If you find that there is something that you need,
come to one of the brothers
and he will tell you
how to get along without it'”
.
(‘Practice Resurrection’).
(‘Practice Resurrection’).
.
Teach us, Holy Spirit, please teach us…to pray such a dangerous prayer whenever we want something…
Teach us, Holy Spirit, please teach us…to pray such a dangerous prayer whenever we want something…