Be careful
for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known unto God.
—Philippians
4:6 KJV
Do we ever limit God by not
believing the promises He has for our lives? The Word is full of promises from Him.
If we had a million dollars in the bank, we would certainly withdraw from that
account! Jesus has rendered the greatest account, and He waits for us to believe
and draw from its bounty. Don’t just believe
in God. Believe Him. Believe His Word. Believe what He says is true. We receive
His promise when we believe Him.
Sometimes we
limit God by informing Him of what we need and the way in which we need it. We
don’t really trust and believe what God has chosen is best. A person doesn’t
tell a doctor how to treat his illness and inform him of each procedure that he
needs. He trusts the expertise of someone more knowledgeable than himself. Why would
we demand from God what we consider our due or how it should be given to us? The
Bible teaches us to be honest with Him, and let Him know all our hurts and
longings. But it doesn’t tell us to demand anything from Him. “When you ask,
you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives” (James 4:3, NIV). Perhaps
what we ask comes from selfish desires that battle within us and not from what
He wishes to impart. God is not a magician for our pleasure. He is our “Abba
father”, and we can draw near to Him because Jesus has made a way into His
presence. He is Lord of all, and is due our love and respect. We have the privilege
to ask and to pour out our heart to Him. He provides what He deems best.
Another way
we limit God is by not feeling we are worthy. How many believers feel unworthy
because they feel guilty and condemned? They don't feel worthy to ask God for
anything. They truly believe that God wouldn't hear or answer their prayers
because of past sins. They end up limiting God because of feelings of
unworthiness. No one is perfect. We all fall short of God's perfection. But
Jesus paid the price for our sins. Our past is forgiven. Our sins are forgiven,
and we can approach our omnipotent God and forgiving God with a humble and
believing heart. We are worthy because He has made us righteous by His
sacrifice.
“Lord, help
us realize that can we come humbly and boldly before you with our requests. Help
our unbelief. Help us believe you are who you say you are, and we are who you
say we are. We can pour out our hearts to you, and know that you will bring your
promises forth in our lives. You are unlimited in your power. You are
everywhere with us. You know every thought that we have, yet we need to ask.
Asking makes it our sacrifice of praise. Lord, you answer our prayers in
amazing ways—ways that we never even considered. When we believe you, Lord, we
trust you. We look to you to take care of things that we are unable to take
care of. We ask for your help in all things we face. We ask humbly and yet
boldly for big things that honor you and your will in our lives. Lord, help us
not to limit you by not believing or by demanding or by feeling unworthy. Help
us to understand who you are, and what we mean to you. Help us realize that
such a loving God who would give His life, never turns His back on the prayers of
His child. Lord, help us to never limit you again.”
© 2017 Lynn
Lacher
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