My Prayer: Psalm 1:1-3 (New International Version)
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
The Reading: Matthew 19-21
Matthew 21:21-22 (New International Version)
21Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
My Thoughts: This last verse is the source of one of my struggles with my Christian faith and growth. I believed it and I prayed for good things...and they didn't come. Of course, I've heard over and over that I have to understand God's will and pray for the right things, but sometimes that seems like a loophole to a fairly clear promise. So what do I do when I'm disappointed in the answer? The answer depends on the day. Sometimes I think I've gained more wisdom with the passing of time and can see the reasons why I should have prayed for a different outcome or reasons why God's answer was better. But sometimes I'm just disappointed and angry. I think those times are becoming fewer as I mature, and I hope that someday, when I can see what my life became thanks to the change Jesus made, that it's all going to be clear. Until then, I have to battle those doubts and disappointments...my Father wants to give me the best in life, better things than I even know to ask for. And He has a plan for that life, a plan far above what I can plan. And He's going to take every bad thing that happens to me and turn it into something good. Here's another translation that seems a little more believable to me...I believe that God does care about the insignificant parts of my life as well as the big decisions. And, thanks to prayer, I've already successfully done things in my life that felt like telling the mountain to go jump in a lake. I have to remember these when I'm confronted by the disappointments.
Matthew 21:21-22 (The Message)
21-22But Jesus was matter-of-fact: "Yes—and if you embrace this kingdom life and don't doubt God, you'll not only do minor feats like I did to the fig tree, but also triumph over huge obstacles. This mountain, for instance, you'll tell, 'Go jump in the lake,' and it will jump. Absolutely everything, ranging from small to large, as you make it a part of your believing prayer, gets included as you lay hold of God."
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