If You Love Me
The other morning I was laying in bed trying to fall back asleep after my husband had left for work. I didn’t get much sleep at all that night and just wanted a day where I wasn’t exhausted and moody. My 4 month old started fussing. My train of thought went something like this. “Nooooo…...please go back to sleep. God please have him fall back asleep so I can have more rest. I need it. I’m tired. You love me right? You’ll give me rest. …. No he’ll probably wake up, because you don’t care and I’ll have an awful day.” Ohh how God convicted me that morning.
“If you love me you’ll _____”. I’ve heard talks on this many times and know we aren’t to treat God as a genie. He isn’t there to grant our wishes and give us whatever we want. Yet, still I fall into this. Is it wrong to pray and ask God for things? Absolutely not. To throw a fit when we don’t get what we want? That’s not really a respectful attitude to the Creator of the universe. To doubt that God won’t do something, because He doesn’t love. That may be the worst…
John 14:13-14 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
This statement shows Jesus’ heart. God has been portrayed as someone who doesn’t love us, as an angry distant God. Yet, if you believe that Jesus IS God that doesn’t make sense. You can’t for a second think “he’s angry and distant” when reading about Jesus. Part of the glory the Son gives the Father is by showing us how He loves and cares for us. He is not distant. He hears you.
He’s not someone to bark orders at though, either. He is not a genie. He is the Creator. He is holy. He is above all. Will He do absolutely anything and everything you ask of Him? No.
The way that God convicted me that morning was with one thought “Do you have faith in me?” Such a loaded thought. Do you have faith that I exist? Do you have faith in what I did on the cross? Do you have faith that I love you? Do you have faith that I hear you? Do you have faith that I will respond?
Matthew 19
25 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
Was it possible for God to have my child go back to sleep so I could get more rest? Absolutely. Was that the only way I could be saved? What if God didn’t sooth him, did I have to be moody and tired all day? Or could God overcome those things through the Holy Spirit or by providing me with a nap that day and changing my perspective. He could have responded to my prayer in love in countless ways without answering my “genie wish”.
There are big things in my life that I pray for and know beyond a doubt is something that God has a heart for, that it lines up with Him and His teachings. I pray in confidence. I pray in somewhat confidence “help me believe in my unbelief”. As soon as something happens that counteracts that prayer. That shows it hasn’t been fully fulfilled yet. I feel thrown to the wolves. Trapped with no way out. Then God whispers “Do you have faith in me?” Do you have faith that I’m working despite what you can see. Do you have faith that everything is possible for me? Do you have faith that I am a redeemer and that I will save?
Whatever is going on in your life, big or small God sees you. He hears you. He cares. HE IS WORKING.
When you reach out to God and pray about something whether it be the 1st time or what feels like or even is the 1,000 time remember who you’re praying to. Not as a passing thought “yea yea God and Jesus.” Really think about it. “Do you have faith in Me?” Who is the me that you are praying to? How much easier it is to pray and hand things over, no matter how many times you may have taken it back, when you are on your knees in awe of the One you are praying to.
“If you love me you’ll _____”. I’ve heard talks on this many times and know we aren’t to treat God as a genie. He isn’t there to grant our wishes and give us whatever we want. Yet, still I fall into this. Is it wrong to pray and ask God for things? Absolutely not. To throw a fit when we don’t get what we want? That’s not really a respectful attitude to the Creator of the universe. To doubt that God won’t do something, because He doesn’t love. That may be the worst…
John 14:13-14 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
This statement shows Jesus’ heart. God has been portrayed as someone who doesn’t love us, as an angry distant God. Yet, if you believe that Jesus IS God that doesn’t make sense. You can’t for a second think “he’s angry and distant” when reading about Jesus. Part of the glory the Son gives the Father is by showing us how He loves and cares for us. He is not distant. He hears you.
He’s not someone to bark orders at though, either. He is not a genie. He is the Creator. He is holy. He is above all. Will He do absolutely anything and everything you ask of Him? No.
The way that God convicted me that morning was with one thought “Do you have faith in me?” Such a loaded thought. Do you have faith that I exist? Do you have faith in what I did on the cross? Do you have faith that I love you? Do you have faith that I hear you? Do you have faith that I will respond?
Matthew 19
25 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
Was it possible for God to have my child go back to sleep so I could get more rest? Absolutely. Was that the only way I could be saved? What if God didn’t sooth him, did I have to be moody and tired all day? Or could God overcome those things through the Holy Spirit or by providing me with a nap that day and changing my perspective. He could have responded to my prayer in love in countless ways without answering my “genie wish”.
There are big things in my life that I pray for and know beyond a doubt is something that God has a heart for, that it lines up with Him and His teachings. I pray in confidence. I pray in somewhat confidence “help me believe in my unbelief”. As soon as something happens that counteracts that prayer. That shows it hasn’t been fully fulfilled yet. I feel thrown to the wolves. Trapped with no way out. Then God whispers “Do you have faith in me?” Do you have faith that I’m working despite what you can see. Do you have faith that everything is possible for me? Do you have faith that I am a redeemer and that I will save?
Whatever is going on in your life, big or small God sees you. He hears you. He cares. HE IS WORKING.
When you reach out to God and pray about something whether it be the 1st time or what feels like or even is the 1,000 time remember who you’re praying to. Not as a passing thought “yea yea God and Jesus.” Really think about it. “Do you have faith in Me?” Who is the me that you are praying to? How much easier it is to pray and hand things over, no matter how many times you may have taken it back, when you are on your knees in awe of the One you are praying to.
Comments
Post a Comment