Well, I went to the Teen Community Bible Study last night - and it was really great! I didn't see anyone from SJV that I knew, but that doesn't mean that there were not some of you there. I really encourage all of you to come next Monday night and check it out - see if it's something that you'd like! If you want, we can set up a meeting place for a group to go over together. If you're interested in that - please email me at sjvyouthministry@gmail.com!
Now, onto another discussion on prayer and how we pray…
Piggy-backing on what I said yesterday, have you ever noticed that our prayers seem to be trying to change God rather than asking God to change us?? I know I've gone back and forth, some of my prayers tell God what to do, while other prayers ask for me to be 'broken down' and for God to do what's best for me (because obviously, I don't know).
Of course, the prayers that try to tell God what to do, to try to change God's ways, are the ones that are the most problematic, and these prayers never receive a solid answer. Instead, the answer I receive is that I need to change…and to see through a different perspective. We cannot change God, and by us asking God to change himself, we are essentially trying to make ourselves the creator and not the created.
Imagine going up to Bill Gates or Steve Jobs with your current knowledge as of today and trying to tell them that they had created their computer systems incorrectly and what adjustments should be made? Sure, you may have a few 'good points,' but no matter how good these ideas are, you are currently incapable of understanding the whole of the situation or its long-term effects. Don't you think they would look at you like you were crazy and didn't understand the full complexity of their computer systems or their business?
So wouldn't you think that God has a better idea of what is best for his creation, and that God can better foresee the outcomes of going a certain direction? I certainly think he does!
Because of this, I think it is very important that each of us try not to see 'problems' in our lives, but rather, we need to try to see only solutions and opportunities. Every door that is closed does open a window or at least a ladder or escape hatch... and who knows, maybe sometimes God just wants us to sit in that room without any escape routes, to be at peace with our current situation, and to wait until he builds that door or window to give us our way out. So don't try to claw your way out of that solid room, that's only going to exhaust you, when truly, God may have been trying to give you a moment of calm before sending you out into a new setting. Maybe God was also asking for your trust and prayers that he would offer you a route out of that room…and sometimes we need to trust and accept the fact that God may exhaust us with looking for a door before we are able to refocus ourselves to truly see the opportunity to get out of the room. It's time to look at the world through optimistic eyes and to embrace what God has given us, even if through our clouded eyes we only see something that may appear unattractive or unsettling.
God will answer our prayers in the way that he sees appropriate - it is not up to us to decide the future or will the future to happen - it is up to God to make these large decisions in our lives. Our prayers cannot change God, and it is time that we accept our responsibility and live as the created and not overburden ourselves with trying to act like a creator.
Write down this verse from Psalm 46, put it on your folders, put it on your arm, put it wherever so you can see it easily. When your life gets hectic or where you feel out of control and like you may break down at any moment…pull out this verse…and calm your spirit and feel peace, since God is in control, and he will take your burdens upon himself.
"Be still and know that I am God" - Psalm 46:10
Now, onto another discussion on prayer and how we pray…
Piggy-backing on what I said yesterday, have you ever noticed that our prayers seem to be trying to change God rather than asking God to change us?? I know I've gone back and forth, some of my prayers tell God what to do, while other prayers ask for me to be 'broken down' and for God to do what's best for me (because obviously, I don't know).
Of course, the prayers that try to tell God what to do, to try to change God's ways, are the ones that are the most problematic, and these prayers never receive a solid answer. Instead, the answer I receive is that I need to change…and to see through a different perspective. We cannot change God, and by us asking God to change himself, we are essentially trying to make ourselves the creator and not the created.
Imagine going up to Bill Gates or Steve Jobs with your current knowledge as of today and trying to tell them that they had created their computer systems incorrectly and what adjustments should be made? Sure, you may have a few 'good points,' but no matter how good these ideas are, you are currently incapable of understanding the whole of the situation or its long-term effects. Don't you think they would look at you like you were crazy and didn't understand the full complexity of their computer systems or their business?
So wouldn't you think that God has a better idea of what is best for his creation, and that God can better foresee the outcomes of going a certain direction? I certainly think he does!
Because of this, I think it is very important that each of us try not to see 'problems' in our lives, but rather, we need to try to see only solutions and opportunities. Every door that is closed does open a window or at least a ladder or escape hatch... and who knows, maybe sometimes God just wants us to sit in that room without any escape routes, to be at peace with our current situation, and to wait until he builds that door or window to give us our way out. So don't try to claw your way out of that solid room, that's only going to exhaust you, when truly, God may have been trying to give you a moment of calm before sending you out into a new setting. Maybe God was also asking for your trust and prayers that he would offer you a route out of that room…and sometimes we need to trust and accept the fact that God may exhaust us with looking for a door before we are able to refocus ourselves to truly see the opportunity to get out of the room. It's time to look at the world through optimistic eyes and to embrace what God has given us, even if through our clouded eyes we only see something that may appear unattractive or unsettling.
God will answer our prayers in the way that he sees appropriate - it is not up to us to decide the future or will the future to happen - it is up to God to make these large decisions in our lives. Our prayers cannot change God, and it is time that we accept our responsibility and live as the created and not overburden ourselves with trying to act like a creator.
Write down this verse from Psalm 46, put it on your folders, put it on your arm, put it wherever so you can see it easily. When your life gets hectic or where you feel out of control and like you may break down at any moment…pull out this verse…and calm your spirit and feel peace, since God is in control, and he will take your burdens upon himself.
"Be still and know that I am God" - Psalm 46:10
1 comment:
Thank you for such a great post, Molly. You're truly making a difference for people in your community and beyond with your words. It really spoke to my frustration with my job at the moment and my trying to find a way out. Maybe I'm not supposed to find a way out but instead wait to see if I'm given one?
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