Left In The Lord's Hands

Matthew 26:39 – Going a little farther, Jesus fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

I cannot emphasize enough that your trust in the Lord is not dependent upon your expected specific answers to your prayers. If you have a pre-determined answer for your prayer, you have already distorted the pattern of prayer. Your prayers are to be lifted unto the Lord. Your answers are to be left in the hands and wisdom of the Lord.

Somerset Maugham tells of hearing the thought, that if you prayed, anything could happen. All you had to do was believe. He prayed one night for his stuttering to be taken away. He visualized it all gone. He now knew the kids wouldn't make fun of him anymore. The next morning he dashed downstairs to greet his parents. He was so excited because he had asked God to take away his stuttering, and he just knew it was gone. Almost breathlessly he said to his parents, "Goo-goo-goo-good morning." It was not gone. He was embarrassed again. He says he dashed to his room faster than he came downstairs and vowed never to pray again. He had put his trust in an answer and not in the One Who is the Answer.

If you are going to validate prayer by your receiving the specific answer you demanded, your prayer life is at least tarnished if not finished. The Bible teaches that you are to trust the Lord. You cannot trust either your requests or your answers.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to keep my eyes off specific desires and to keep my heart open to continual communion with You. Amen.

(From The Ministry of the Master ©1986 by Donald Bartow. Used by permission.)

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