But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and
sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than
sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22
Today my husband and I were discussing something a lady said to me in a conversation. It really struck me as odd, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what bothered me so about it. She was talking about her approach to God in her prayer life. She told me her prayers were made up mainly of "venting" to God and crying (literally) her heart out. She then feels better, but the next time she comes to God she does the exact same thing over the same situations. So far, she has seen no results and she has been doing this for years. She told me some personal things she had been praying about, of which I cannot write due to the fact it was told in confidence. I thought now why on earth would this dear lady pray so hard and see no results? Not ever a result to her prayers!! Through great teaching over the years, from wonderful pastors to solid foundational books, but mainly through the Holy Spirit I have learned some basic things. Not that I know it all, by far, but thank God I know some! I recognized that this lady had said, "I have always done it this way and I will always do it this way because it is just me!" WOW! That is huge! When you do your OWN thing instead of obeying God and what He tells you in His word (Bible) and do things your way, including prayer, it WILL be JUST YOU! I don't know about you, but I NEVER want it to be just me!! I have to have God in every step I take and in every decision I make! The prayer of agreement, including you and God agreeing is mighty. The Bible tells us if two agree touching any one thing I (God) will do it for you! Who better to agree with than God? You agree with God by praying and speaking and obeying His word!! He says, "MY WORD WILL NOT RETURN VOID, BUT WILL ACCOMPLISH ALL I HAVE SET FORTH FOR IT TO DO!' Now that is powerful my friend! I remember a pastor I had many years ago. He was in the army and was a sargeant. He and the platoon he was over would go through drills where they had to crawl on their bellies with their heads very, very low to the ground. If they raised their head the least bit, the enemy would shoot it off. He had one young man that no matter how much he told him, which was hundreds of times, he would always lift his head to look at where the shooting was coming from. Many times my pastor would shout out to him, "Keep your head down!!!" He would even have talks with this man about the consequences of him not following his orders to the letter, yet the young man did it his way. Maybe this man thought, too "Well that is just not comfortable for me and I am going to do it my way! I have to be me!" One day they were scheduled for drills but this time they were using real bullets! My pastor brought this young man aside and told him, yet again, whatever you do obey my orders. This time it could be life or death!!" Well, I am sure you can see where I am going with this. They began to crawl on their bellies and soon the firing commenced. My pastor kept this young man right by his side trying to insure his safety. Suddenly, a fire rang out and the young man had his head a little too high and he suffered a fatal wound. How very sad, when all he had to do was listen to his superior and would have lived to tell about it instead of being sent home with his life ended before his time! It is the same with God. He doesn't want us to say, "I'll do things my way and if it doesn't work out I'll just repent and that will be the end of that." Yes, God is quick to forgive and slow to anger, BUT when we deliberately do things OUR way knowing it is the wrong way, there is a consequence to pay many times. Paul called it "trying" God's grace. I pray for this precious lady that she will heed the messengers that are being sent her way to tell her how to pray effectively which is by faith and praying the word of God. Oh, what magnificent results and blessings come from doing things GOD'S way and not our own! Thank you for taking your valuable time to read my blog! Have a blessed day my friend, all day!!
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