THY Will Be Done

Scripture: While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Luke 5:12

Observation: Interaction with God does NOT begin with us - it begins with God. Specifically, it begins with a relationship and a conversation that involves two primary elements first and foremost:

1) Acknowledging the lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives.
2) Seeking GOD's will (not ours).

Jesus later taught prayer the same way - "Father in heaven, hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come and will be done ..."  This leper gets it right: "Lord, if you are willing ..."

Application: Every day, and almost every time I pray, I get it wrong. I have entire prayers that are effectively "God, please do x, y, z." Even when I believe I am asking for something that is within God's will, I don't couch it that way - I couch it by saying 'this is what I know to be right, therefore I have faith you will act accordingly.'

As my church enters a month of prayer, I need to embrace this truth: Effective prayer involves starting with a focus on my relationship with Jesus, and that relationship is grounded in the fact that he is my Lord, and thus I should seek his perfect will and join him in his work. With that as the starting point, surely I can be of better service to him, and get to celebrate his amazing work on earth.

Prayer: Abba - my father in heaven - you are my lord, and I am yours. I seek to join you in your work here on earth, which is perfect and powerful and loving. If it is your will, please show me where you are moving, so I may join you and pray further into that will. I seek to be used by you, so I may enjoy your love. Amen.