DRAWING NEAR
March 22
Praying with Commitment
"Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:10).
Matthew 6:10 literally says, "Whatever you wish to have happen, let
it happen immediately. As your will is done in heaven, so let it be
done on earth." That's a prayer of active commitment to God's will.
Many people don't pray like that because they don't understand God's
character. They think their prayers don't matter and that God will
impose His will on them no matter what they do. They tend to pray
with passive resignation, indifference, or resentment.
I remember praying such a prayer. After my freshman year in college,
I was in a serious auto accident. The driver lost control of the car
at about seventy-five miles per hour and it rolled several times
before coming to a stop. I was thrown clear of the vehicle and ended
up sliding down the highway on my backside for about 100 yards. I
lost a lot of skin and had some third-degree burns and other
injuries, but fortunately I didn't break any bones.
I was conscious during the entire ordeal and vividly remember
thinking, All right God. If you're going to fight this way, I give
up! I can't handle this! I knew God was calling me into the ministry,
but I was focusing my life in another direction.
I think God used that experience to get my attention, and my prayer
of passive resignation soon turned to active commitment as He refined
my heart and drew me to Himself.
Perhaps God has dealt severely with you, too. If so, it's only
because He loves you and wants to produce the fruit of righteousness
in you (Heb. 12:11). Don't despise His chastening, and don't be
fatalistic or resentful in your prayers. Godly prayers make a
difference (James 5:16), so commit yourself to praying expectantly,
knowing that God is gracious and wise and always responds for His
glory and your highest good (Rom. 8:28).
Suggestions for Prayer:
If you tend to pray with indifference, passive resignation, or
resentment, ask God's forgiveness. Study His character and cultivate
deep communion with Him through disciplined, trusting prayer.
For Further Study: Read Luke 18:1-8.
Why did Jesus tell this parable? What principles do you see
that apply to your life?
Drawing Near, Copyright c 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Hebrews 12:11 (NKJV)
11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but
painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of
righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
James 5:16
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another,
that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous
man avails much.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who
love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Luke 18:1-8
18:1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray
and not lose heart,
2 saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God
nor regard man.
3 "Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying,
'Get justice for me from my adversary.'
4 "And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within
himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man,
5 'yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her
continual coming she weary me.'"
6 Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said.
7 "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night
to Him, though He bears long with them?
8 "I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when
the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
http://www.gty.org/Gospel
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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