Don't Beg. Believe.
Have you ever wanted something so badly from God that you found yourself almost begging while you prayed?
I have grown up in the church and prayer has always been super important to me. In the Bible, it states that we need to pray. There are several scriptures that tell us to ask the Lord for what we have need of.
Right now, I have a lot of need. I need direction, I need provision, I need direction, and wouldn’t mind direction, haha. Needless to say, I have been praying and asking the Lord quite frequently about what I need to be doing.
How about you?
Has there been a certain situation that you have found yourself going to the Lord in prayer about? I know that may seem like a silly question. Don’t we always have something weighing on our minds keeping us in a state of dependence on God? Once one thing in our lives has been resolved, here comes something else sending us to our knees. It reminds me of a song that says “I get knocked down, but I get up again. You’re never gonna keep me down. I get knocked down, but I get up again. You’re never gonna keep me down.”.
Over and over, life tries to knock us down, but we just get right back up to run our race again.
I have learned getting knocked down is a beautiful place, though, because that is where we truly have to surrender. It’s those moments when we have tried all we could and are finally at a place where we invite God fully into our life’s equation. Before we get to the place of surrender, He can be close to us as we are trying to figure out what to do. He’s allowed to watch over us, but we call the shots. “Here’s what I need, Lord, and this is how I am going to get it, ok??” However, when that sweet “plan of a man” doesn’t work out, we meet God in true surrender.
I have a tendency to take charge. Almost to a point where I get prideful and lose my dependence on God. When things are going like I want them to, I get this “I got this” attitude and become in control again. When, let’s be honest, control is something we will never have. I can’t even guarantee I’m going to breathe another breath. How can I ever think I can control the whole outcome of something?
It’s in that place of true surrender that we really need to dwell. Not in a groveling state, but in a state of “Lord, this is what I think I need and want, but what do YOU have to say about it?”.
Lately, I have been groveling, haha. To the point where I heard in my prayer time, “Don’t beg. Believe.”.
Man, that hit me hard because it was true.
Begging lends to the idea that you’re desperately pleading for something from someone you’re not even sure will help you, but the Bible tells us to come to God with confidence.
“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 4:16
My prayers have changed. I was praying, “God, please help. Please work this out. Please, please, please, please, please show me. Please tell me, please guide me. Please, please, please. Are you hearing me God? Do you see me God? Are you even listening to me????”.
Now, my prayer is:
“God I love you and want nothing more than all of You in everything. I am standing surrendered. Here are my plans and my desires. Now show me YOUR way. Work out in me what needs to be worked out so I am ready and prepared for whatever lies ahead. I don’t know what tomorrow holds. YOU do. All I have is today. Help me LIVE today. Whatever happens after today is up to You. I leave tomorrow in Your hands as I BELIEVE you are making it all work together for my good.”
Then I say, “Amen”. Amen means “Let it be so.” Let everything be said and then let it be.
Let your requests be made known to God with confidence believing He hears you and is working everything out for your best. Then rest as peace guards your heart from anxiousness and guards your mind from worry.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
Can I get an Amen?!
