January 26th, 2022 – Praying with Tears
Experiencing God Devotional
Hebrews 5:7 – “When He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, [He] was heard because of His godly fear.”
The life of Jesus provides the model for our prayer lives. God is seeking to mold us into the image of His Son (Col. 1:27–28). If we are to act like Christ, our prayer lives must be conformed to His. Many Christians are unwilling to pay the price that Jesus paid when it comes to interceding with God. Jesus’ prayers came with vehement cries and tears and, “because of His godly fear,” He was heard by the Father.
Why, then, did the Father refuse His request? It was not due to any sin in Jesus’ life, nor was it because the Father did not love His Son. The Father said no, despite the unfathomable love He had for His Son, because He knew He could not spare His Son and save a world. Likewise, the Lord cannot always spare you and your family and complete His redemptive work in those around you.
Are you willing for God to deny your pleadings? Will you intercede with the Father so deeply and intimately that even in the midst of your tears you are able to say, “Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done”? The Father will always relate to you out of the context of His love for a lost world. Has God said no to one of your requests recently? Accept His answer. Have you been learning obedience through what you have been suffering (Heb. 5:8)? If you have, God may choose to make you a source of salvation to others even as He did with His Son.
Blackaby, Richard. Experiencing God Day By Day (p. 27). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Pastor’s Thoughts
I have said it before and I will say it again. We were not created to be the main character of our story. Jesus is meant to be the main character of our story. We are to live our lives for God’s glory not our own.
It is not my will be done, it is God’s will be done.
When we pray we need to make sure that we are not coming to God with a spirit of give me but instead we need to be coming to God with a spirit of do with me what you desire to do with me.
It is freeing when life is not about you and is instead all about God. That means that I am not here to have people see me one way or the other, instead I am here on this earth to worship the Lord Jesus Christ and encourage others to do the same.
How do you do when God says no to your prayers and instead reveals to you that you should instead be praying about something else instead?
Have a blessed Wednesday everyone!
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