Praying with humility

In the last section of Chapter 8, Mr. Chapell writes:

"Humbly praying for the wisdom to apply God's Word to our circumstances is more important than praying for miraculous signs. While it may seem very spiritual to pray for God to make a flock of birds fly East if His answer is "yes" and West if the answer is "no". Scripture will not endorse such a request. Jesus said 'A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign' (Matt 16:4). The Bible says that God has already provided sufficient guidance in His Word for our decisions. (2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:3-4)...We did not have to wait for mysterious intervention to make good decisions. If we pray for Godly wisdom to apply Biblical principles, we can make choices with the confidence of having God's approval."

Making Godly decisions is a matter of everyday living for us. As we have learned if we keep Godly "fence posts" we are free to move about within God's protection and believe that we are moving through His will. It is when our desires, emotions, worldly thinking override the clear directives God gives us, that we sin and as we saw, are guilty of blasphemy. When we continually ask for more signs and more signs, we are suggesting to God that He has not given us enough guidance in His Word. When we hear clearly in His Word and still demand more verification, we are like the Pharisees in Jesus time who kept asking for more miracles. In reality their heart was already given to another "husband". They never wanted to "know Christ" they wanted to affirm their adulterous hearts as they had chosen another love...themselves. How sad that we can do that at time...we ask God for a sign but in reality we are asking for Him to affirm our own feelings...often it is wordily affection that has come in our hearts and minds to usurp God's place.

I remember when one of my daughters was liking a young man in school. Talking to her week after week about "what would be the most God honoring relationship she could have with this young man?" As we talked over and over and read God's Word, she knew, that young man did not know Christ and the most God honoring relationship was one that would exhibit a saving relationship to him. She witnessed to him for the next two years. She knew what God's Word said "Do not be unequally yoked"...Today she is in a relationship with a godly young man and she is so grateful to have waited for what God had for her. Discipline, guarding her heart and a continually submission to God's revealed Word helped her walk through those years in God's will.

We walk in God's will when we submit humbly in prayers, we redirect our thoughts and affections towards His revealed Word and live with a confidence that says He will never forsake us.

Mr. Chapell ends this chapter:
"If our prayers involve a choice between alternatives, we should not pray for what the Bible disapproves or label as unrighteous what the Bible does not condemn. We discern God's will, by praying for Him to provide us with the wisdom and courage to abide by His Word and then we move forward with the confidence that He will rightly bless prayers offered in Jesus name."

What are your thoughts regarding this insight? Is there an area of your life, you are waiting for God to give you one more sign even though you know God has clearly spoken to you? Are you seeking first God's Word as you make decisions or are you letting your heart lead?

Next week...praying in God's Wisdom