“Truly God has listened; He has attended to the voice of my prayer.” Psalm 66:19

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

Thank you for praying with me for the season of medical checkups. I’ve begun! I’m trusting for good results, and I’m grateful for your undergirding prayers.

When I lift prayer requests to the Lord, I do my best to die to my own thoughts and desires. I tell the Lord that I trust His plans and purposes. But I think that “my wishes” can sometimes be what I’m praying. I may not always be on the same wavelength as the Lord even though I try to be. God doesn’t fulfill all our wishes when we pray, but He does fulfill all His promises! He is faithful in doing that. I often find it helpful to pray His promises.

People have asked me if I’m upset with God for not answering the prayers for healing for Floyd. I certainly wanted him to be physically healed here on earth! But I always prayed “healing or heaven” leaving the choice to the Lord. I knew that only He knew what was best. I knew He could heal Floyd – so many examples in the Word – like the man by the pool of water who had been lame for 38 years…a lot longer than Floyd. Healing Floyd would have been easy for God. But I didn’t know what God’s “plan and purpose was.” And, ultimately, Floyd got healing and heaven!

I think it boils down to trust when we are praying. We lift up our prayers to the Lord…praying as best we can according to God’s purposes – but we have to trust God with the final decision. That’s where the “rubber meets the road.” (Another saying my mom used.) We have to entrust ourselves into His loving hands. That’s the ultimate prayer!

Many times God has something better in mind than what we are praying. I think of Mary and Martha praying for Jesus to come and heal their brother Lazarus. Jesus didn’t arrive when they wanted, and Lazarus died. He was already wrapped in grave clothes in the tomb by the time Jesus arrived. Jesus had something better in mind – He wanted to raise Lazarus from the dead! God’s ways are not always our ways. We shouldn’t be surprised when our prayers go unanswered because He has something better in mind!

I often sit as I’m praying and check my motives – making sure I’m not praying from selfish motivations. I ask God to show me His plans, His purposes – and guide me in how to pray. But I also know He doesn’t get upset with us if we pray “amiss.” He sees our heart. He understands our love and trust for Him. And He answers us – oh how wonderful that He meets us, and answers us! I’m so grateful!

Thank you, Jesus, that you always know what’s in our heart. Help us to always remember the ultimate goal of our prayers–drawing close to You. Thank you for our fellowship and friendship that we have with you through prayer.