How would you feel if someone ignored you except when they wanted something ?
How would you feel if they demanded you give them something? Not only that, they told you exactly how to put it together and wrap it up?
How would you feel if after such demands, they told you they wanted it immediately?
If you did not immediately produce, how would you feel about a mob of people showing up at your door, demanding the same thing?
How would you feel if after they got what they wanted, they went on their merry way and you didn’t hear from them until they wanted something else?
How would you feel if they never thanked you for all the many gifts you gave them all the time, even when they didn’t ask for them?
Unfortunately we may sometimes treat God that way. We try to use Him as an emergency responder instead of having an ongoing relationship.
We tell God what we want.
We tell Him exactly how to deliver it.
We tell Him when we need it (usually immediately).
Sometimes we bring prayer partners to emphasize how much and how quickly we want God to act. We call it “coming into agreement.”
What we mean is we all agree. We are not there to all come into agreement with God. We are there to try to convince God to come into agreement with us.
If we get what we need, we may toss out a quick thank you. But once we get what we need, we go back to believing we can run our own life.
How do I know this? Because I have been guilty. 😳
Some time ago, as I was following this format, God spoke to me in my spirit. He said, “Are you seeking Me or just what I can give you?”
🥺🥺
David said the way to enter into God’s Presence is with thanksgiving and with praise.
Enter His Gates with thanksgiving and His Courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His Name!
Psalm 100:4-5
When we begin our prayers with thanksgiving for all God is and all He has already given us, we will find we are on a whole different level.
When we think of all He is and all He has already given us, how could we do anything but praise Him?
When we pray with thanksgiving and with praise, God invites us into the inner parts of His Home to be with Him.
It is there we can sit with Him and fully express how we feel and what our desires are.
It is there we can hear Him tell us of The Great Love He has for us and what He desires for us.
It is there we can be still and know He is God and we can trust Him to do what He knows is best for us in His Time.
I invite you to pray beginning with thanksgiving and praise before you ask God for anything.
Then be still and listen. Let God speak first.
Then consider if what you want to ask Him truly lines up with Who He is. He is Love. Anything apart from Love is not His Will.
Consider what you really want. He will give you more than you can think or even imagine.
Remember God’s Ways and Timing do not always line up with what we expect. Allow yourself to be surprised. And be patient.
After you have asked God for what you believe you need, be still and hear Him. He often answers with His Name — I AM.
When we say, “Please be with me,” God says, “I AM.”
I AM with you always. Be sure of this!
Matthew 28:20
