After giving a session of counseling not
long ago, I realized many believers are still stuck in their problems after
much prayer. Mostly it’s because they don’t know they are to look for solution
through prayer. In fact, many are yet to have the understanding that their
prayer lives involve constant 2-way responsive conversation with the Lord.
Prayer is not giving God a long list of
shopping list then end with amen. Prayer is not dumping your emotional garbage
to God. You have the right as a child of God to express your emotion and
feeling to Him. But just because you start and end with lots of tear doesn’t
entitle you to have all wishes come true. You can’t twist God’s arm. Well,
probably He did entertain a little when you were a spiritual babe in Christ.
But as you grow spiritually, He expects you to relate to Him with increased
spiritual maturity, disregarding your biological age.
What is spiritual maturity? You are
maturing more in the spirit when you are in closer relationship with God and
your spiritual understanding is increasing. Thus, you are maturing more in the
spirit when you start thinking more like Him. There is no end to maturing in
the spirit. It takes your whole life time on earth and eternity because you will
never understand God enough. But you can grow spiritually more matured by
spending time worshipping God, praying in the spirit and understanding, reading
and meditating upon His Word.
If you haven't been spending time with God
and His Word for some time, don't feel condemned. Just draw near to Him with a
sincere heart. Your Heavenly Father's arms are always opened for you. If you
can pray in the spirit with heavenly tongue, do that. If you can't, start with
a time of worship. Sing some worship songs so that your heart will be opened to
hear from Him. Seek the Lord and He will give you understanding (Proverbs
28:5b). It just takes your will to work the relationship.
Let’s get back to the topic. When you were
a child and you wanted something badly, you wailed, you threw tantrum, and you
got what you wanted from your parents. But if you still behave the same as a
grown up, your parents will deem themselves a failure in parenting. Yet, that
does not short change their love for you. They just want you to be a
responsible grown up person. It’s merely God the Father’s reflection on them
(Matthew 7:7-11). God still expects you to look unto Him with a childlike heart
minus the childish way (Mark 10:15). As a grown up, you seek your parents’
advice and act accordingly. You approach your parents for their wisdom that
they had gained through life-experience (Proverbs 1:8-9). What more should you
seek the wisdom from the God of the whole universe, the Alpha and Omega, who
sees and who is the Beginning and the End (Revelation 22:13)? If you don’t have
the advantage of asking your parents’ advice due to different unfortunate
reasons, you can always count on your Abba Father who is omniscience (all
knowing).
The book of Proverbs teaches us to seek
wisdom from God.
My
son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you
incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you
cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek
her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will
understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD
gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:1-6).
Trust
in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all
your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).
The
Lord is always in the search for someone who will seek His face and advice like
King David did. And hey, He is never stingy with what He can give you (1 King
11:38).
However, be objective in getting prayer
answered from God by acknowledging that His thoughts are higher (Isaiah
55:8-9). I assume you understand that you are seeking specific revelation from
God here. So, whether the answer requires your immediate actions or requires
you to simply wait patiently for His sovereign intervention, obedience is the
key (Isaiah 1:19). If you aren’t sure you’re receiving correctly, ask for 1 or
2 more confirmations. God is a generous Father. Whatever reply you get from
your Heavenly Father, you have got your solution. As long as you follow the
guidance of His Spirit closely, breakthrough is at hand.
It is so easy to live in this chaotic world
without having to strive and being stressed out if you know how to rest in
God’s presence and seek His wisdom. Surely you will experience and enjoy the
peace and joy of God because you live a God-guided life.