Monday, May 12, 2014

"Willing To Answer"


(I began writing this on Saturday, but because of the events mentioned, did not finish until this morning.)




   This is a red letter day in the Davis family.  Our youngest daughter Emmie graduates from college, as did our son Noah several weeks ago (following in their sister Marie's path, paved a number of years ago by her undergraduate and law degrees).  Thankfully, Noah and Emmie already have gainful employment in their respective fields (criminology and art).  I'd be remiss if I didn't also add that Emmie's beau Sheldon also graduates today with a degree in graphic design, and his friend and ours Matt receives his English degree as well.  Yes, a big  day!


   We all went to dinner several nights ago to celebrate their big week.  As we sat around the table, I looked at these young people with a great sense of gratitude and hope for their futures.  They live in challenging, difficult times, of course, and it's anyone's guess regarding the course of our nation.  I nevertheless have a great sense of hope for them, and even more, a great sense of responsibility in determining to consistently pray for them and be there for them in days to come.


   As I prayed for Noah, Emmie, Sheldon, and Matt this morning regarding their special day and their future, the thought occurred that the Lord to whom I pray is far more willing to answer my requests than I am to offer them.  Indeed true prayer begins in our Father's heart, proceeds to our own through the Holy Spirit's working to formulate our awareness of God's desires, and then culminates in our supplications and intercessions.   Prayer thus begins with the Lord's will, which is far more purposeful and intent than our own.  Remembering and affirming such truth motivates us to pray far more, and with far greater confidence and expectation.


   Few truths more move us to consistently and fervently make known our requests to the Lord.  He desires to answers our prayers more than we desire to have them answered.  We must seek to align ourselves with His will, of course, and we must realize that He works according to His purposes and timetable.  Nevertheless, the trusting sons and daughters of God in Christ can - and must - approach the throne of His grace with the aforementioned confidence and expectation.  Anything less besmirches our Father and His loving involvement in our lives.  We honor Him and consider Him rightly when we bow to pray with the sense that He loves to act in holy and determined response.  I'll think about this in the days to come as I pray for our graduates, and as I pray for all…


"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?"

(Matthew 7:7-11)


"This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us."

(I John 5:14)


Weekly Memory Verse

   All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.

(Matthew 11:27)



No comments: