Today's Devotional

 

June 12, 2008

                                                                                         

Subject:  What About His Will?

Matthew 26:42  "He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."

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The email that you may have received yesterday asking for prayer for Presidential candidate Barack Obama gives me an excellent opportunity to address how we (believers) pray.  Since I received the email saying that Barack Obama asked for prayer, I searched to see if I could find the content of his request.  In doing so, I stumbled upon a prayer or two for Barack by his supporters and they sounded much like this one by someone named Tracy Green on a Barack Obama blog.  

"Heavenly Father thank you for a wonderful day today.  Lord, thank you for all that you are doing for the Barack Obama campaign. I just thank you and praise you, cause you are an awesome God!  Lord I ask your help again for Tuesday in the two primaries.  I am asking for a double victory.  It can be done because you are God and you rule and super rule.  Lord I ask that you bless each and every person reading this prayer. Lord I ask that you bless all of the Obama supporters.  Lord I ask that you cover Barack with your blood from the crown of his head to the bottom of his feet.  Do not let any harm or danger come upon Barack Obama.  Place a hedge of protection around him in Jesus name Amen. Obama 08!"  

I understand the part in the prayer to, "pray for his protection" and giving thanks for what God is doing, but to request the victories in the primary without deferring to His will on the matter is somewhat self-centered.  

Sadly, many of us pray that way regularly.  We want what we want and not really what God wants us to have or to happen.  So instead of praying, "thy will be done," we pray "our will be blessed by God."  That's a little bit different focus when you think about it.  

Christ understood this and in His prayers, while He asks for certain things to happen or not happen, He always defers to the Father's will.

Today, whose will do you want to be done in your life? 

By the way, I didn't even touch the portion of the prayer that asks to, "bless all of the Obama supporters."  That's another devotional for another day. 

Carlen