“The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.”
EXODUS 4-6
10Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
11The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
13But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”
14Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. 15You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. 17But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”(4:10-17)MATTHEW 16
21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
23Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
JOURNAL
Human concerns are obviously different than God's concerns. Moses was guilty of seeing things simply from the human perspective and so was Peter. Here are two men who are in the presence of God and Jesus and they still fumble around and don't get it. Honestly this makes me feel better for my own shortcomings and failures. It also though is a reminder that when I trust God...he is beyond human and is not restricted by normal human standards. Therefore I shouldn't minimize him nor be afraid to embrace his nudging and his commands.
Ultimately relationship with God is about being in tune with God. It is about beginning to understand better his heart, his wisdom and to therefore have it influence my actions and my influence on the world. I absolutely believe that God desires for us to come before him and confess our desires and ask for what we want, yet I also believe that I will never control God. I can't trick him into giving me my way, it's God's way always. Coming before him in prayer helps me to better understand it and to ultimately see where my desires differ and ultimately fail in comparison to God's truth and love. However I never should shy away from being honest about my desires before God. They will never be perfect and there will be times when my desires and selfishness will work for good. The key is to keep coming to God...keep being honest and keep seeking him.
Human concerns are obviously different than God's concerns. Moses was guilty of seeing things simply from the human perspective and so was Peter. Here are two men who are in the presence of God and Jesus and they still fumble around and don't get it. Honestly this makes me feel better for my own shortcomings and failures. It also though is a reminder that when I trust God...he is beyond human and is not restricted by normal human standards. Therefore I shouldn't minimize him nor be afraid to embrace his nudging and his commands.
Ultimately relationship with God is about being in tune with God. It is about beginning to understand better his heart, his wisdom and to therefore have it influence my actions and my influence on the world. I absolutely believe that God desires for us to come before him and confess our desires and ask for what we want, yet I also believe that I will never control God. I can't trick him into giving me my way, it's God's way always. Coming before him in prayer helps me to better understand it and to ultimately see where my desires differ and ultimately fail in comparison to God's truth and love. However I never should shy away from being honest about my desires before God. They will never be perfect and there will be times when my desires and selfishness will work for good. The key is to keep coming to God...keep being honest and keep seeking him.
Ultimately relationship with God is about being in tune with God. It is about beginning to understand better his heart, his wisdom and to therefore have it influence my actions and my influence on the world. I absolutely believe that God desires for us to come before him and confess our desires and ask for what we want, yet I also believe that I will never control God. I can't trick him into giving me my way, it's God's way always. Coming before him in prayer helps me to better understand it and to ultimately see where my desires differ and ultimately fail in comparison to God's truth and love. However I never should shy away from being honest about my desires before God. They will never be perfect and there will be times when my desires and selfishness will work for good. The key is to keep coming to God...keep being honest and keep seeking him.
10If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
JOHN 15:10
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