(02-10–22– Unanswered Prayer!--Matthew 6:33)
May I ask you a question? When you pray how do you feel about yourself? Of course we all know that humility is required in prayer. Does God respond to pride?
My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.
I'm M. Clifford Brunner.
One of my favorite chores is burning the trash. It happens about twice a week here and follows the same pattern whether Wednesday or Saturday. I haul the trash back to the burning barrel, dump it in, pour a modicum of accelerant (gas) on the pile, light a match and stand back. Up it goes with an audible woof. Most guys get a kick out of that part of the job; the flame, the lift, the sound and the heat. I guess it's a "guy" thing. One thing, however, always has to take precedent over the fun: matches and fumes don't mix. The gas can has to be deposited a safe distance from the barrel before you flick that match. That little safeguard is critical to the overall enjoyment. Gas cans and fires don't mix. A failure to take pre- cautions here can only result in a little fun becoming a lot of hurt.
We don't often think of prayer as something combustible. But, in a way, it is and we need to respect it and employ it wisely as it also could end up blowing up in our faces; especially when we combine it with the wrong fuel.
Here's a story: In his book Why Prayers Are Unanswered, John Lavender retells a story about Norman Vincent Peale. "When Peale was a boy, he found a big, black cigar, slipped into an alley, and lit up. It didn't taste good, but it made him feel very grown up, until he saw his father coming. Quickly he put the cigar behind his back and tried to be casual. Desperate to divert his father's attention, Norman pointed to a billboard, advertising the circus. 'Can I go, Dad? Please, let's go when it comes to town.' His father's reply taught Norman a lesson he never forgot. 'Son, he answered quietly but firmly, 'never make a petition while at the same time trying to hide a smoldering disobedience.'" (Kirk Russel.)
One of the most important reasons why some prayers go unanswered is because they are misplaced in the first place. When we join our prayers to a misplaced goal, as Peale did when he tried to tie his trip to the circus to an act of disobedience, it's like trying to light a trash fire with gasoline fumes nearby; it's a volatile situation. Our prayer life ought to be primarily focused on developing the needs of the spirit first and those of the body only when we've satisfied things spiritual. The fact of the matter is this: the here and now can never be more important than the eternal. That is not to say that our physical needs are unimportant. God knows that they are. Our health, welfare and prosperity are always in God's sights. But, look at it this way; no matter what we do to look good, feel good and succeed in this life, in the end, dead is dead. All corpses look the same. God made you and I first and foremost spiritual beings. Putting our physical needs before the spiritual is like lighting a match too close to fumes; it can only lead to regret.
We pray. Heavenly Father, we know that the here and now can never be more important than the eternal. Although our physical needs are not unimportant, because You know that they are. Our health, welfare and prosperity are always in Your sights. But, we need to look at it this way; no matter what we do to look good, feel good and succeed in this life, in the end, dead is dead. You made us first and foremost spiritual beings. Putting our physical needs before the spiritual is like lighting a match too close to fumes; it can only lead to regret. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!
Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.
If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”
<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.