Are your prayers filled with things you want or what you think should happen? Me, too! So often I’m focused on what I want and I forget that God may have a different idea. I’m not sure what made me ever think that I would know better than God. Kind of ashamed of that.
We can easily get wrapped up in our own world and forget to ask God to show us the prayer we should be praying.
Ask God what you should be praying!
I thought I knew what our praise band needed. After all, there was just two of us left after the mass exodus that COVID 19 brought. For more than 3 years I’d been asking God to bring us more musicians and singers. When all along he knew I was asking for the wrong things.
What made me finally realize my error? I’m not really sure, but I was in the middle of praying the same prayer when all of a sudden, I felt in my heart that God was telling me to ask him what we needed.
Why that never occurred to me, I don’t know. But I think back to a conversation I had with our pastor, whom I consider to be my mentor. Years ago he asked me what our praise team needed. I’ve often thought back to my answer. A feeble attempt at really thinking about it, I think my answer was more musicians.
Years have gone by since that conversation. So, God had an answer that really surprised me. I had just read an article about getting the right people on your team. It really related to the business world, but talked about having people with different skill sets. If everyone thought the same, the business would never grow.
I took that thought and looked at our predicament in that perspective. So, what was it that our team needed that was different from what we already possessed. We had two instruments, keys and acoustic, and two vocalists. Are we professional caliber? Not necessarily, but when did God ever use the best or strongest to implement the toughest jobs?
Mary, a young girl, was chosen to carry the Son of God. Joseph, a boy sold into slavery, saved a nation from starvation. The Good Samaritan was the one who tended to and cared for the wounds of a Jew when other leaders avoided walking on the same side of the street.
What did our team need that was different than what we already had? A different perspective or personality, maybe. My thoughts went to a person who’d been worshipping with us for awhile. When I thought of her, I saw a true worshipper. Someone who came to our rehearsal one night just to pray with us. And I thought that’s exactly what we need! But, I had to make sure this was who God wanted to join us. So, I didn’t mention it to anyone else. I asked Him to let me know this was from Him and not just my wish. Within a couple of days, she told me she’d like to join us.
Do you feel like God’s not listening to you? Maybe you’re asking the wrong questions, too. Ask Him what he thinks you need and then listen for his answer. It may not be what you expect, but He is faithful. You may have to wait a while for His answer. Sometimes God’s timing doesn’t line up with ours, because we want it right now!
God, open our hearts and minds to you. To listen to what you are whispering to us. Show us the path you have for us even if it’s not what we think. You know the best plan! In Jesus’
Where God Leads 