Henry and Richard Blackaby’s devotional guide, Experiencing
God Day by Day: “Prayer is not designed
to change God, it is designed to change us.
Prayer is not calling God in to bless our activities. Rather, prayer takes us into God’s presence,
shows us His will, and prepares us to obey Him.” (p. 280).
A friend included that quote in an email recently. He was asking for prayer as he prepared to go
back to Haiti to teach pastors from rural mountain churches in Western Haiti
for 2 days. That is the same area where
Martie and I served for the last year we were in Haiti. I met Eric several years ago and encouraged
him to go there. But I was not the real
reason he went – he went because God sent him there. God uses the saints to encourage each other
through His Spirit. But it is God who
makes eternal differences in the lives of people. I planted, Eric is watering, but God will
bring the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:6)
Prayer helps us to focus on the eternal and on God’s will.
Unfortunately many Christians don’t see prayer as vital to their spiritual
health. Prayer is about alignment –
aligning our will with God’s will. When our children were small I can remember
holding their face in my hands and looking into their eyes to make certain I
had their attention. Our heavenly Father
does something similar .. but just because we are looking does not mean we are
listening. Dr. Henry Blackaby also said “Some people say ‘Don’t just stand
there – do something’. But God is saying
‘Don’t just do something – stand there’”
Spend time with your Father today. Listen to Him – wait for Him – trust Him and
then obey Him. The prophet Samuel said “Obedience
is better than sacrifice.” (1 Samuel
15:22-24) “Has the Lord as great a
delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices. As in obedience to the voice of the
Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.”
Please pray for Eric Searcy and his trip this week for physical endurance, spiritual strength and wisdom. CHARLEY
No comments:
Post a Comment