– Secret Place Insights –
Dear One, sometime ago, during a sermon, our pastor put up on the overhead screen a chart representing personal will. He asked the congregation something like this; “How much of your life places God’s will over your will…25…50…75…100 percent?
I sat looking at the chart, displeased with myself…and not unashamed. For I knew, and certainly God knew…that for some time, I had been praying for a certain outcome, an outcome according to my will. I was having trouble praying, “God’s will be done.” Oh yes, I have been admitting it to Him, apologizing, and asking for forgiveness. For my will should never come before His. As a child of God, I am to trust Him fully and always be able to honestly close my prayer with, “…above all Your will be done.” But lately, with this unrelenting desire I have been having trouble dying to self. And I find myself thinking, why can’t for this request, my will be God’s will?
For you who have walked long and faithfully with God, you know how ridiculous this thinking is, and so do I. I know it, you know it, and God…well He knows everything. So there is no way to play hide-and-go-seek with Him.
Oh how I have yearned to quickly get back to sincerely ending every prayer with, “Your will be done.” I have hated being in the midst of a battle for my will over His. I am to trust that God’s answer of “No,” or “Not now,” is the best of all answers. I know this in my head, but have not felt it in my heart. That is until now.
Did you wonder where I was going with all the moaning? I would think that you would. Recently, because of my rebelliousness, I began praying the following prayer of confession, and through serious consideration of each line of confession, and many tears, God has been healing my heart. So, I thought if sometime you find yourself where I have recently been, the prayer might be of help to you as well.
Prayer of Confession – Asking for Forgiveness
I come penitently, my Father, for I am saturated with sin. Forgive me:
For my little love for You;
For calling Christ “Lord” but disobeying Him;
For light neglect of my most solemn vows;
For quickness to resent and slowness to forgive;
For pettiness and insisting on my own way;
For preferring self-indulgence to sacrifice;
For pursuing my interests over Yours;
For siding with the world and deserting Christ;
For quieting the voice of my conscience.
For these and many other sins, Lord, have mercy upon me. Amen.
Author unknown…some revision made 2020.
***
“For from days of old no one has heard, nor has ear
perceived, nor has the eye seen a God besides You,
Who works and acts in behalf of the one who (gladly)
waits for Him. Isaiah 64:4
Blessings,
Susanne
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