Spiritual Education

This is a post in response to the Daniel Safari Week 7 discussion questions. You can read my Safari Sister's responses by clicking HERE

In chapter 7 of Daniel, we read that he saw one CRAZY vision, and didn't understand it. So, he went right up to a person right in his vision and asked 'WHAT ON EARTH IS THIS ALL ABOUT?'- well, maybe those aren't the exact words, but you get the point.

Anyway, I was really impressed by this, because as I study through the Bible, I find there are lots of lots and LOTS of things I don't understand.  I am comforted that Daniel could just ask, and that God made it make more sense to him.

Years ago I was reading the story of King Hezekiah waaay back in Isaiah 38.  It seems God told King Hez that it was time for him to die. And King Hez prayed... NO! I DON'T TO DIE... IT'S NOT FAIR!!! PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME DIE!" ... or something like that.

So, God granted King Hez this plea. Many people think this is a victory for King Hezekiah, but many others see this as more of a cautionary tale. You see, in his 'extra' days, King Hez had a son who grew up to be one of the worst kings in history and led enemies right into the treasure room in his palace that eventually led to the conquering of his kingdom.

When I first read this, I began to get worried. If it were possible to pray for the wrong thing, and God would give it to us, and disaster would happen, THEN WHY PRAY? I mean, really... I know God, and I know me. I know that it is altogether possible that on any given day I could unknowingly be praying for something that would lead to my eventual complete destruction. (hello, when I was 10 I prayed to marry Scott Baio!!!) If it were even possible that my prayers for the wrong thing could cause more harm than good, why even ask?

This went against everything I knew to be true, and I was so troubled!  I started praying. God... "I don't get it. This seems to contradict your commission to us to pray and to ask what we desire.  Show me!"

Then I started really just leaning on the things I knew to be true about God- He is fair and just. He is sovereign . He tells us to pray. He tells us to seek. He tells us to knock.

It took a while, but eventually, I got it!  One day while I was praying and reflecting on this confusing passage, I realized a point: God told King Hezekiah that it was His will that King Hez would die.  King Hezekiah then prayed that God's will would not be done... but that he could live instead.

A-HA!

It didn't go badly because King Hez inadvertently prayed for the wrong thing by accident... it went badly because King Hez asked for something contrary to God's will.*lightbulb*

Now, I know that if I am asking for something I know from God's Word is in His will, I pray in confidence... boldly! I know that He wants that not one should perish, that He wants us to love one another, that He wants justice. I can ask for those things without reservation. Help me to love her! Help me to forgive! Let him be saved! Protect their hearts!

The other stuff, the requests I have that are not scriptural, I ask for still! But I follow Jesus' example and add "... nevertheless, not my will but Thine be done."  May the surgery happen today? May I get on the plane on time? May he get that job? I know this- if God doesn't want that surgery to happen, if He doesn't want me on that plane, if He doesn't want that person working at the job... I don't want it either!!!!

I felt so much better after I understood just a little bit more. Like Daniel, I didn't get complete understanding (Who besides God really completely understands how and why Prayer works?) but I knew that God revealed to me exactly what I needed to know.  I love when I allow Him to be my Educator. It keeps me from the gullibility of my youth (once when I was young, a pastor preached that if you asked God for something more than once, it showed you didn't have faith in Him.  Was YEARS before I understood how wrong that was!) and helps me bear fruit for His glory.

May each of us want His understanding more than our own...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; 

do not depend on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5