So I was reading a devotional this morning and it really gave me a lot to think about. At a time where the church is getting over packed with excessive amounts of optimism (which really has no biblical basis) what is our first inclination to do when someone asks for prayer? Usually when someone asks for prayer they're going through a difficult time, and so our inclination is to pray for that pressure to be relieved right? We empathize with them, feel sorry for them and pray that God will just help them get out of the mess and have some relief.
The devotion I read challenged this way of thinking. "And when you begin to see that person in the middle of a difficult and painful struggle, don't try to prevent it, but pray that his difficulty will grow even ten times stronger, until no power on earth or in hell could hold him away from Jesus Christ...We are indeed amateurs, coming in and actually preventing God's will and saying, 'this person should not have to experience this difficulty.'...Instead our sympathy gets in the way. One day that person will say to us, 'You are a thief; you stole my desire to follow Jesus, and because of you I have lost sight of Him."
Thoughts?
Good thread zoa,
First thought that comes to mind is "god wants the first of everything "
I found I had two areas I was not dealing with this properly after closer examination .. Those being pride and yielding ..,number one, thinking I can take care of anything Wich is a burden for someone else better than God can.. and second, lifting all up to God "who can bear the weight" of the burden better than I can.. since looking at that I am more ept to comfort more than fix , and listen more than talk.. This may sound funny , but I picture each of us with a basket in our hands. I am at a place now where I am beginning to automatically assume what I come to you with is going to "first be handed up to God, no matter what it is" this keeps me accountable to God and not to the person.. same goes for the person coming to me .. Everything they come to me with I "first" Lift up to God .. I find this keeps me accountable in my responses and actions to God before the individual I'm speaking with .. I hope that makes sense..
prayers are an opportunity to call on God..
an opportunity to converse with Him as well...
Often times we try to first hand our burdens and our requests to others before "first" handing them to God..
I think reminding how available God is and has been in our own burdens and requests is helpful to remind others to do the same ..
I certainly will pray .. thanking God for the opportunity of what He is bringing to get a good look at my own heart towards Him..
I dont remember where I read this .. But it has stuck with me ..
Lord , may my integrity never leave you ..
I find opportunity when such things come my way..
