The illustration of prayer that our Lord used here is one of a good child who is asking for something good. We talk about prayer as if God hears us regardless of what our relationship is to Him (see Matthew 5:45). Never say that it is not God’s will to give you what you ask. Don’t faint and give up, but find out the reason you have not received; increase the intensity of your search and examine the evidence. Is your relationship right with your spouse, your children, and your fellow students? Are you a “good child” in those relationships? Do you have to say to the Lord, “I have been irritable and cross, but I still want spiritual blessings”? You cannot receive and will have to do without them until you have the attitude of a “good child.”

We mistake defiance for devotion, arguing with God instead of surrendering. We refuse to look at the evidence that clearly indicates where we are wrong. Have I been asking God to give me money for something I want, while refusing to pay someone what I owe him? Have I been asking God for liberty while I am withholding it from someone who belongs to me? Have I refused to forgive someone, and have I been unkind to that person? Have I been living as God’s child among my relatives and friends? (see Matthew 7:12).

I am a child of God only by being born again, and as His child I am good only as I “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7). For most of us, prayer simply becomes some trivial religious expression, a matter of mystical and emotional fellowship with God. We are all good at producing spiritual fog that blinds our sight. But if we will search out and examine the evidence, we will see very clearly what is wrong— a friendship, an unpaid debt, or an improper attitude. There is no use praying unless we are living as children of God. Then Jesus says, regarding His children, “Everyone who asks receives . . .” (Matthew 7:8).

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August 24, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, every once in a while Oswald Chambers writes a devotional that confuses me.  This one tells us that God will answer our prayers if we are “good children” and unless we are “good”, You have no obligation to keep Your promise to meet our needs.  I chose this song because it tells us that You love us anyway, regardless of the fact that we lie, have been Judas and the man from the crowd shouting, “crucify.”

And God says…”Some believe that you come to me in faith, but right after your decision to surrender to Me, you must  clean yourself up and be “good” enough. It is not the way. As Paul said in his letter to the Romans… 5.. ^1-2By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. ^6-8Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway.”

“You will never be “good enough” to receive my blessings. However Jesus is always “good enough”. I  answer your prayers always, with one of three blessings; 1)  yes, right now… or 2) be patient and wait for a time, and  finally 3)  I have something much better in mind. My blessings are based on the sacrifice of Jesus, and the grace and mercy that accompanies your surrender to Him”.

Aug 24^{th  DJR Journal}

Good Morning Lord,

I agree with my brother, the idea that we will have to do without (blessings) until we become a good child … does not square with my experience.   I have recieved many blessings as a huge sinner or while in a prodigal phase.   As a matter of fact, the blessings while prodigal, are an impetus to surrender and return to better acting, being a good child, as Oswald says.    So I dont know how exactly to reconcile the different truths…  It is also true that there is sowing and reaping … I have seen that.    But I have also seen blessing come on top of not-so-good sowing.   And sometimes there has been what I thought was some pretty good seed sown that didn’t produce that great a harvest.   I’m glad I dont have to have this all sorted out.   It could give me a headache like a French Existential Philosopher.    I am happy to rest in my brothers bottom  line …. Paraphrased …. If we have 2 ingredients:  The sacrifice of Jesus and our surrender …  We will be OK and dont have to have all the other questions figured out.

I would like to learn more about this, how the universal truths superimpose, one over another …..

You are right, there are truths that are in place, like gravity, that I put the Universe together with.   But they I can over ride one concept with another … My ways are higher than your ways.  Even the physical laws can supercede one another like magnetism can supersede gravity etc.   A couple of trump cards that I have that regularly over ride lower truths are my love for you – as proved by Jesus sacrifice, and my hate for sin – as proved by Jesus sacrifice.    If you read the new testament you will see that unworthy people were actually the only ones that got the blessings.   The worthy ones, the Pharisees,   got nothing.   The only blessing that a person good and perfect in their own eyes can get is the blessing of Surrender, which my Holy Spirit can aid in achieving.     The problem is that perfect people rarely pray for that particular gift.     Remember, even Surrender is a gift.   Seek it.