How many times do we pray for God to show us something or for Him to guide us and not praying for God’s will? Jesus never asked God to guide him. And to this point, I can’t find any Scripture to pray seeking God’s guidance.
Matthew 6:9-15 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Jesus taught us to pray… “Thy will be done…” not “SHOW me Thy will.” When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane He prayed, “If it be your will let this cup pass from me…” NOT “Show me Your will that I may do it.” Hmmm.
Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Some suggest that the “renewal of your mind” is prayer and “discerning” is asking God to answer regarding His guidance.
But, “renewing of the mind” does not refer to prayer asking God for guidance. God’s will is discerned by immersing ourselves in Scripture and as a result God’s will is known through the Spirit’s illumination of Scripture in light of honoring God’s Word which dominates our life.
Oswald Chambers was a prominent early twentieth century Scottish Christian minister and teacher is quoted: “God won’t tell you what He’s doing; He tells you who He is.”
Thanks Ellen for the thoughts you provoked in me this week.
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