I think most
of us have come to know that when we pray, God doesn’t always answer exactly
how we were thinking He would. Saying
this in another way, we tend to expect that our prayers will be answered in a way that
makes sense to us from a perspective of our current understanding of things,
from the narrow view of what we have seen in the past and what our wishes are
of the future. The reality is that this isn't always how things work.
Would we
change our prayers if we knew what God knows?
If we could see what God sees? If
we knew what will have to take place for Him to answer the prayers we are
sending forth?
If we have
been praying for God to open the eyes of our children to seeing Him, and
bending their knee to the realization of who He is, are we willing to let God
do that, His way? Do we ever stop
to consider exactly what that might look like for them? Or even for us?
The reality
is, God’s understanding of who we are, and what it will take to move us far
exceeds our ability to do the same for others.
His ways are not our ways because, in as much as other things, He is not
flesh. As hard as we try to do the right
thing, we tend to put our desire for protecting the fleshly experiences of our
loved ones ahead of what will be best for their spiritual growth. On the other hand, we tend to let our fears,
frustrations, and personal agendas get in the way of our ability to show grace
and kindness.
When Christ
was asked, “what is the greatest of the commandments?” His response was: “you shall love the lord your God with all
your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost
commandment. The second is like it, you
shall love your neighbor as yourself”.
I believe
one of the greatest transformational aspects of this walk is our ability to simply
watch HOW God answers our prayers, how He goes about His interactions in the
lives of our loved ones, our community, and our world. For me and my journey there is an aspect of
watching God work on others that is more clear and transparent than when I try
to understand His interactions in my own life.
It seems as though some of my defenses are dropped making it a little
easier. Through the process of watching
His interactions with others, with governments, and with societies, He speaks to me
through my questioning of Him or through my resistance to accept that what He
is doing is “good”. This process of
observing the perfect parent, who has the perfect balance between truth and
grace, who is doing everything in love, for us, not Himself has taught me so
many things.
How much did
Christ Love God? What was Christ willing
to accept in His heart, embrace to the depths of His soul, and overcome even to
the most remote spots in His mind?
Regardless as to where you are in your relationship with God, or where
you are with Christ, or what you believe, what we see in Christ is
undeniable. He demonstrates what it is
to love God, and love our neighbor. From
what I see, Christ’s “fully man” side:
Allowed Himself to see His own
pain and suffering as gain to His soul, and
Necessary for the spiritual gain
of “His neighbors” (all the world).
The point is
this: if we truly desire to love our
neighbor we must allow ourselves to love God.
Truly Loving God isn’t easy. We
have to accept that He is totally and 100% in charge. We have to accept that what He is doing is
profitable to our soul, regardless as to how much our flesh cries out. We have to accept that what He has done and
will do is for the betterment of mankind, our society, and the world. We have to accept that the way we would do it
if we were Him is not the answer. Not
the answer for our own lives and not the answer for the world. Loving God isn’t easy. But it does bring liberty, freedom from our
agenda, freedom from questioning what we don’t like. Freedom to be at peace in spite of what has
happened and what the future holds.
I pray that
God be with you and that you allow Him to speak to you throughout the day.
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