Word Of God Is At Work In Those Who Believe - Prayer Monday

God’s Word works in our lives.

But how much more it works in our prayers!

“There are only three classes of people in the world today: those who are afraid, those who do not know enough to be afraid, and those who know their Bibles.”

Unknown preacher

Using Scripture in our prayer underscores that we desire to search out God’s heart in a matter.

And that we seek to know His will.

“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe”. 1 Thess. 2:13

We may have many requests that we would like to be filled.

But are they according to God’s Word?

If we read the Scripture and seek God’s heart and His wishes.

Are they the same as our heart’s desires?

God’s way is always the best.

And we need to read His Word and pray to know His mind.

So that His will can be revealed to us.

And also that we can wish the same thing He wishes for us.

“Dear God, show me Your will in Your Word. I know that I have many desires. Many of them are very good desires but they are not according to Your will. They are not the best for me. Teach me Your Word and Your will, show me Your heart, so I can desire what you desire for me. Let me submit to You! Amen!”

 This message is part of the Prayer Monday series.

Thought for today

The word of God is living and active

One thing that I find so wonderful about being a child of God is that I don't need to conform. God always wants us to seek more, more of His grace, more of His love, more of His care and comprehension, more of life and adventure with Him.

In Romans 12:2 Paul says: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”.

Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”.

I want to be transformed by God’s will. I know it’s a risk, a risk to be ridiculed, a risk to feel inadequate, a risk to loose friends and worldly goods, a risk to be changed as a person. At one point, I think, all that has happened to me. And it has hurt! Oh, how it has hurt.

It has hurt so much that for a time I didn’t want to know anything about God. I wanted to walk alone and most of all, I wanted to conform. Be just like everyone else, part of the pattern of this world. 

Psalm 40:1 “I waited patiently for the LORD. He turned to me, and heard my cry.”

But once God has touched you, you’ll always have a hole in your soul. Hole with the size and form of God, and a longing that nothing else can fulfill.

I know that God must have suffered to see me so hurt and disappointed. Finally I grew and matured enough that I was able to understand that the hurt came from the disappointment in the people around me. Not because God had failed me. 

Psalm 31:7 “I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities.”

After all I learned that God was there with me all the time. And I was able to sing, like David, in Psalm 31:7 “I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities.”

There was a time in my life that I would hear this soundtrack in my mind of Halleluiah and different worship songs. Because there was no other way to express how amazed I was by God’s love and forgiveness. I may not have been patient as the songwriter in the Psalm 40:1 “I waited patiently for the LORD. He turned to me, and heard my cry.” But even so, God did hear my cry. And I am learning to be patient.

My circumstances hadn’t really changed. I still had my reason to suffer. But I had learned something valuable, mainly that “Happiness isn't something that depends on our surroundings... It's something we make inside ourselves.” ― Corrie Ten Boom.

“Happiness isn't something that depends on our surroundings... It's something we make inside ourselves.” ― Corrie Ten Boom

Sometimes I feel that I shouldn’t have to need such dire circumstances to learn to be happy and have joy in my life. But then I remember how obstinate I am. And I do need them. I need more and something far worse. Just like C. S. Lewis says in The Problem of Pain: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
 

Although I have another reason to be thankful. I have finally learned what Paul meant in

Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” C. S. Lewis -- The Problem of Pain

And all that pain and hurt has really paid off. The suffering was worth it. It was worth to learn not to trust myself or the people around me, or money, or work, or prestige, or education, or anything else of this world, to help me in my moment of plight.

Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

“Be sure that the ins and outs of your individuality are no mystery to Him; and one day they will no longer be a mystery to you.” C. S. Lewis -- The Problem of Pain

I must assume that C. S. Lewis was right when he said in The Problem of Pain: “Be sure that the ins and outs of your individuality are no mystery to Him; and one day they will no longer be a mystery to you.”

I may not understand myself fully but I can be fully assured that God does understand me, in my entirety.

 After all, Paul wrote to the Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”