When We Get More Than We Bargained For
We don’t always pay attention to what we pray for. Too often, we can get caught up in prayers of repetition (which Jesus warned us about in Matthew 6:7), or we don’t actually think through the implications of what we are asking for in our prayers.
“Lord, please grant me more patience…”
How do you suppose one gets more patience? If you were to pray to God to give you stronger muscles, what do you suppose He would provide? Almost certainly, rather than simply bestowing upon you powerful muscles, He would send you heavier weights, as it is the exercise using those weights that will result in more powerful muscles.
Likewise, when we pray for patience, we should realize that we are giving God the permission to send us some interesting circumstances that will try our patience. It is only by overcoming these circumstances, and relying on God for strength, that our patience will grow. God is only too eager to grant us those requests, as they build our characters and make us fit for His kingdom.
“Lord, please strengthen my faith…”
Again, what do you suppose is the best way to accomplish this? Of course! it is by God allowing circumstances to come upon us that can only be solved by relying on Him – even when the answer to the problem does not appear to make sense to us.
After all, if it makes perfect sense to you, then you really aren’t exercising any faith, are you?
And since it is impossible to please God without the exercise of faith, it is of extreme spiritual significance that our faith muscles be improved daily. The exercise of virtues is the only type of exercise that you can and should pursue each day.
So, given that prayers for increased virtue will likely result in increased difficulties, should we seek to avoid them by keeping such prayer to a minimum? God forbid. Our salvation ultimately hangs on our close connection to God, and such a connection is not possible without attaining more and more of His characteristics such as Love, Mercy, Patience and Faith. Shying away from obtaining and practicing these virtues will result in us having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. (2 Timothy 3:5)
No, rather than run from these potential trials, we should glory in them, and count ourselves blessed if we are given an opportunity to experience them for the sake of the Gospel.
1 John 5:4-5 KJV
(4) For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.
(5) Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Revelation 3:5 KJV
(5) He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Let us be over-comers by the blood of Jesus, recognizing that He allows us not temptation that is too heavy for us to bear, or that greater than the power He gives us to overcome.
This is a new decade of a new century and the end of time is upon us. Let us endeavor to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.