God has assured us that our every need will be supplied, food, raiment, and whatsoever we need. God never promised us that every desire would be satisfied. He said our need would be supplied.
Recently I heard a televangelist say we are to tell God exactly what we want. When we receive it we have no doubt that it was a provision from God. This is the sort of testing which is both self-serving and God-limiting. He knows our every need. It is my belief that when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, he gave them a model of a sincere prayer which we should emulate.
"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us . Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever."
Thus to approach God in prayer, we recognize and honor His place and His holiness. We plead for the coming of His kingdom; we submit our will to His will. We ask only for provision for the day. We ask for forgiveness of our sin against our fellow-man; and we commit to forgive those who have wronged us. We ask for shielding from temptation and deliverance from evil; then we reiterate our recognition of God for who He is, the Supreme Being, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and worthy of all honor and glory.
Priorities.
When Jesus said seek first the kingdom of God, he did not list a
second or third goal. The priority list contains one item and
one item only: seek the kingdom.
I
have heard people say that their priority list reads “God first, my
family second, and my church third.” No. Again, there
is no second or third item on Jesus’ list.
In
whatever life endeavors we are engaged, the first order of business
is to assess the effect of our actions on the kingdom of God.
Do our choices glorify God? Do the choices mesh with God’s
plan for our lives? Have we really sought his will?
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