Whenever people of this congregation gather for meetings or for worship, there is always a time given for prayer concerns. The requests range from healing to rejoicing and all things in between. Through our prayers, we lift up to God our most urgent concerns and some of our greatest joys. Often our requests ask God to do our will.
Contrast that to the prayer Jesus taught us which includes these words: “Thy will be done.” This has a far different meaning than to ask God to do our will.
The following poetic version of what it means to be open to God’s will written by an unknown author goes like this:
He prayed for strength that he might achieve; he was made weak that he might obey.
He prayed for health that he might do greater things; he was given infirmity that he might do better things.
He prayed for riches that he might be happy; he was given poverty that he might be wise.
He prayed for power that he might have the praise of men; he was given infirmity that he might feel the need of God.
He prayed for all things that he might enjoy life; he was given life that he might enjoy all things.
He had received nothing that he asked for — all that he hoped for. His prayer was answered.
He was most blessed.
Being open to God’s will is not always easy, but as this writer declares the lessons learned from trusting God with all of life forms and shapes us into God’s children who are free to call on a loving Father.
Pastor Jerry Greiner