Aligning Will's
I've wondered for a long time how in the world you really do this. How do you in reality get to the point that "if you ask in faith, ye shall receive"? Does that mean that you actually can get to the point in your life that anything and everything you want to happen and wish for is righteous enough to be granted? I'm sure that it is possible but it's very unlikely... at least for most people.
I shared with a good friend of mine something I've done in recent months when I'm praying and hoping for something to happen. I recalled that for as far back as I can remember I've taken the approach of "please bless that this certain thing will happen this way" and "help me do thy will but just let it be what I'm asking for". It seems that, although this isn't a terribly bad or wrong way to go about asking for blessings, it usually didn't end up happening the way I envisioned. So each time that, for instance, I didn't get that second date with so and so girl... or the meeting with such and such a music publisher didn't pan out into instant success... I was left with the feeling of wondering why these things weren't happening when I'd fervently prayed and asked for them to. I'd even made sure and acknowledge that I was trying to do "His will" while assuming that the thing I was seeking was the best thing for me. Time and time again the result of the situation that I was addressing turned out better for me than what I'd prayed to happen would have and it's only recently that I've started to recognize a correlation between what was happening and why.
I think that when most people pray to "let thy will be done" they are unknowingly doing so under the assumption that they are already on the same plane of understanding as the Father and that because they are asking for His will to be done in this thing while at the same time being specific in what they want to happen that those two points of view are aligning. I'm starting to feel like we have to work up to that point... that there is a more elementary step that has been skipped by many. What if we said "Father, I have many things that I wish to happen but I know that you know what is best for me. Please bless me with the strength and resolve to accept the things that come my way and to make the very best of them." Maybe as we simply ask for the strength to deal with the challenges and triumphs that we are dealt we can more fully learn what kinds of decisions the Lord makes on our behalf and we will be trained on how to actually make the choices for ourselves that He would make.
There may be some who would argue that we are supposed to ask for specifics in our prayers and I don't disagree in some things. I'm not talking about those things you pray for that concern those around you, your family, those that you care about or the more blanket blessings like blessing those in need or those in service to the church or to the country. I think this thought has more to do with the pleadings you have for yourself, quite honestly the things that you hope for personally. Maybe, to the Father, it goes without saying that when you are praying for someone else to recover from an illness or get through a tough relationship or bounce back from a life changing event that your genuine concern for them is His will and he and the Spirit are working through you to show compassion on someone else. After all, we are commanded to serve others and in turn we are serving God. But are we serving God when we are getting the things we want? Maybe that is why you can't bless yourself to be healed... why you must have someone else act for you to unleash those powers.
This is just my own thought but my plan is now to work my way up to the status of those prophets we learn about in the scriptures that speak something and it happens. Many of the great prophets have been promised at some point in their life that whatever they say shall happen... will happen and is the will and mind of the Lord. Once I can more fully understand what kinds of choices lead me down the right path for my life I will begin again to ask that "my contract be approved for the purchase of this lot" or "please bless that I can get this song cut by Kenny Chesney today". And when that time comes, if ever, that I can desire something and it always be the Lords will for me I doubt it will have anything to do with Tim McGraw or 2x4's.
I shared with a good friend of mine something I've done in recent months when I'm praying and hoping for something to happen. I recalled that for as far back as I can remember I've taken the approach of "please bless that this certain thing will happen this way" and "help me do thy will but just let it be what I'm asking for". It seems that, although this isn't a terribly bad or wrong way to go about asking for blessings, it usually didn't end up happening the way I envisioned. So each time that, for instance, I didn't get that second date with so and so girl... or the meeting with such and such a music publisher didn't pan out into instant success... I was left with the feeling of wondering why these things weren't happening when I'd fervently prayed and asked for them to. I'd even made sure and acknowledge that I was trying to do "His will" while assuming that the thing I was seeking was the best thing for me. Time and time again the result of the situation that I was addressing turned out better for me than what I'd prayed to happen would have and it's only recently that I've started to recognize a correlation between what was happening and why.
I think that when most people pray to "let thy will be done" they are unknowingly doing so under the assumption that they are already on the same plane of understanding as the Father and that because they are asking for His will to be done in this thing while at the same time being specific in what they want to happen that those two points of view are aligning. I'm starting to feel like we have to work up to that point... that there is a more elementary step that has been skipped by many. What if we said "Father, I have many things that I wish to happen but I know that you know what is best for me. Please bless me with the strength and resolve to accept the things that come my way and to make the very best of them." Maybe as we simply ask for the strength to deal with the challenges and triumphs that we are dealt we can more fully learn what kinds of decisions the Lord makes on our behalf and we will be trained on how to actually make the choices for ourselves that He would make.
There may be some who would argue that we are supposed to ask for specifics in our prayers and I don't disagree in some things. I'm not talking about those things you pray for that concern those around you, your family, those that you care about or the more blanket blessings like blessing those in need or those in service to the church or to the country. I think this thought has more to do with the pleadings you have for yourself, quite honestly the things that you hope for personally. Maybe, to the Father, it goes without saying that when you are praying for someone else to recover from an illness or get through a tough relationship or bounce back from a life changing event that your genuine concern for them is His will and he and the Spirit are working through you to show compassion on someone else. After all, we are commanded to serve others and in turn we are serving God. But are we serving God when we are getting the things we want? Maybe that is why you can't bless yourself to be healed... why you must have someone else act for you to unleash those powers.
This is just my own thought but my plan is now to work my way up to the status of those prophets we learn about in the scriptures that speak something and it happens. Many of the great prophets have been promised at some point in their life that whatever they say shall happen... will happen and is the will and mind of the Lord. Once I can more fully understand what kinds of choices lead me down the right path for my life I will begin again to ask that "my contract be approved for the purchase of this lot" or "please bless that I can get this song cut by Kenny Chesney today". And when that time comes, if ever, that I can desire something and it always be the Lords will for me I doubt it will have anything to do with Tim McGraw or 2x4's.
Comments
I loved how you expressed yourself!!