How Does God Respond to You
I remember in my religious ed classes that our teachers would tell us to ask God for anything in our prayers. Then to test us they would ask, “And what do you think God will say to your request?” We hope ‘Yes!’ Then our teachers would tell us that sometimes God says ‘No.’ Aw. How come? Well, God knows what is best for us. Some teachers would often give us a third option. “Not right now.” Alright, I will get what I want later on. I feel much better now. But is that the right response?
Over the years I have come up with a new response. The first option, God saying yes is still there. But now I come to understand that God does not say not right now. And I do not think God says no either. What I believe now is that God says, “I have something better for you.” Rethinking this right now I think I would rather have that response instead of ‘Yes’ anytime. God had something better in mind for Naaman if he believed. If the people in the temple accepted Jesus God had something better in mind.
So now ask yourself, have you asked God for something and then rejected what God had in mind for you because you never imagined what God had in mind for you? Oh, no! I hope not. But I cannot help but wonder. What do you think? Should we be spending time in prayer thanking and praising God instead of asking?
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen