Christian Living

---

What Do You Want?

The following words that i am about to share may tug at our theological strings, but i want to reassure you that it recently happened to me one morning. As with everything i write, please read and use discernment, along with the Word of God.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As i was in prayer, a man and his wife came to my mind that i knew needed some intercession for things they were going through. The situation that they were facing had been shared the previous day through a prayer list. As i began to pray for them, the Lord said, “I will give you anything you want, as long as the request is not for yourself.” He continued, “I will take care of your needs if you will pray for theirs.”

i began to pray for them and said, “Father, in the name of Jesus, release financial blessings to meet their need.” He stopped me and said, “What do you want?”

i said, “That their needs …”

“No”, He interrupted, “What do you want?!”

At this point, i didn’t understand His words. Then He explained.

He told me that when i said, “in the name of Jesus”, that part of the prayer was not necessary. Then He used this illustration.

“When you wanted more mashed potatoes, did you say to your mother, ‘In the name of Jesus’ may i have more potatoes?”

“No, you just asked, ‘May i have more potatoes?’"

Then He said, “I want that kind of relationship with you. Where you do not need to beg and plead, but just ask, knowing that it is my joy to supply the need.”

He continued, “You may use the name of Jesus to show authority or declare His glory over a situation, but when you come to me, just speak as if I am your Father.”

The entire day has been spent with those four words ringing in my heart, “What do you want?”

Another message came clear to me. We have it all wrong when we think that the only way to build an intimate relationship with God is when we get away into the quiet and can meditate. There is nothing against that and we may need it in our lives. But He told me, “A close, intimate relationship is not built on quiet times, but bringing Me into everything you do.”

He wants to be there, through it all!

Something else developed. There are times when the plate has been passed and we just needed to take whatever it was, without even asking if it was o.k. But we let the blessing go by because we thought it would be imposing on the Giver. As a mother may be hurt because we neglect her gift, how much more is the Father, if we push His aside? If the father passes the plate, and it is has what you need, take it! (By the way, His plate always has just what we need.)

One more. On my way home from work, with those four words still flowing in my thoughts, “What do you want,” i said that it would be great if everyone in the world was healed. (A fairly good request, don’t you think? Especially when it wasn’t for myself.)

He replied, “What if I am using some of those illnesses to show My grace and glory. Would you want to take the glory from Me?”

i admitted that i did not. Then i was curious about when i could pray for healing. He replied that i would know when it was right.

Asking anything we want is not a license to heap blessings upon ourselves, but an opportunity to join God in bringing glory to Himself.

So, “What do you want?”

The plate is being passed … the table is spread … the glasses are full.

He really wants to know … we really need to tell Him!

Be Blessed !!

Glen S.

01/27/04

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE