What do you pray for?
Reading: Luke 11:1-13
“What is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted” (Esth 7:2)
This is not a common offer, because it is costly. In the whole Bible this offer was made to only two and both were women. Both responded very differently. The first one Esther asked for life (Esth 7:1-3) and the second one Herodias’ daughter asked for death (Mk 6:22-25). For both, half the kingdom was not worth their request. Both prayers were answered: one received blessings and another curse.
We have a God who makes this grand offer: “I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it” (Jn 14:13,14). So what do we ask God? Most of us bend our knees to rattle off requests for ourselves, our family and friends. God made a costly commitment when He said “whatever” and “anything.” We must ask only those things that will glorify the Father.
God said to Solomon, “Ask for whatever you want Me to give you,” and Solomon asked for a discerning heart to distinguish between right and wrong. God was pleased because he did not ask for (1) Long life (2) Wealth (3) Life of his enemies, the things we normally ask for in our prayer. God answered Solomon that He would give him what he asked for and what he did not ask for (1 Ki 3:5-13).
So change the pattern of your prayer. Don’t pray for things the pagans run after. God knows we need them. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Mt 6:32,33). Make an effort to pray for those who keep giving you trouble. That will glorify God (Mt 5:44,45). Jesus could have prayed for angels to be sent to rescue Him from His enemies. But rather He prayed for their forgiveness (Mt 26:53; Lk 23:34). God wanted to consume the wicked and stiff-necked Israelites but Moses put himself on the line, rejecting a grand offer (Ex 32:10) and prayed for their forgiveness (v32).
Spread out the newspaper and pray for the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and all in authority; for all the details you read. Pray for the prayer circulars from ministries. Pray for all that you have noted down in your prayer diary. You may forget or not find time to pray for yourself or your family. But God will give you what you asked for and what you did not ask for. Then God will be glorified!
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, 8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
What do you pray for?
Reading: Luke 11:1-13
“What is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted” (Esth 7:2)
This is not a common offer, because it is costly. In the whole Bible this offer was made to only two and both were women. Both responded very differently. The first one Esther asked for life (Esth 7:1-3) and the second one Herodias’ daughter asked for death (Mk 6:22-25). For both, half the kingdom was not worth their request. Both prayers were answered: one received blessings and another curse.
We have a God who makes this grand offer: “I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it” (Jn 14:13,14). So what do we ask God? Most of us bend our knees to rattle off requests for ourselves, our family and friends. God made a costly commitment when He said “whatever” and “anything.” We must ask only those things that will glorify the Father.
God said to Solomon, “Ask for whatever you want Me to give you,” and Solomon asked for a discerning heart to distinguish between right and wrong. God was pleased because he did not ask for (1) Long life (2) Wealth (3) Life of his enemies, the things we normally ask for in our prayer. God answered Solomon that He would give him what he asked for and what he did not ask for (1 Ki 3:5-13).
So change the pattern of your prayer. Don’t pray for things the pagans run after. God knows we need them. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Mt 6:32,33). Make an effort to pray for those who keep giving you trouble. That will glorify God (Mt 5:44,45). Jesus could have prayed for angels to be sent to rescue Him from His enemies. But rather He prayed for their forgiveness (Mt 26:53; Lk 23:34). God wanted to consume the wicked and stiff-necked Israelites but Moses put himself on the line, rejecting a grand offer (Ex 32:10) and prayed for their forgiveness (v32).
Spread out the newspaper and pray for the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and all in authority; for all the details you read. Pray for the prayer circulars from ministries. Pray for all that you have noted down in your prayer diary. You may forget or not find time to pray for yourself or your family. But God will give you what you asked for and what you did not ask for. Then God will be glorified!
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, Mob:8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
