Day 36
It's Day 36. My forty days of prayer and fasting are coming to an end. MercyThe key to mercy is recognizing our sinfulness. Here is where our logic breaks down. We think that our level of righteousness is what God is concerned about, but that isn't it at all. God is more concerned about our level of gratitude.
The story of the pharisee and tax collector in Luke 18 makes that distinction. Jesus makes the same point in Luke 7. He says a person who is only forgiven a little loves a little. The bigger the debt the more grateful we are. The bottom line is this: what God is looking for isn't righteousness. God is looking for an acknowledgement of our sinfulness and appreciation of his mercy.
I can't seem to escape this truth. I'm waking up every day thinking this thought: it's not about what I can do for God it's about what God has done for me! It takes all the pressure off of my shoulders. We have to simply cry "mercy." Sometimes I wrestle with my kids and get them in a "death grip" and they have to cry "mercy." They are acknowledging their helplessness. It's humbling. But it's the only thing that will get you out of the grip. What do you want? It's amazing how often Jesus asks people this question: "What do you want me to do for you?" I think most Christians don't know what they want God to do for them. And that's our problem. We're not believing God for any miracles. We're not holding out for any promises. We're not praying for anyting. We don't know what we want. A few months ago during our staff prayer and planning retreat we had no agenda. We prayed for an agenda. And the Spirit clearly spoke a question to me and I directed it to our staff: what do you desire of me?
I felt like the Lord wanted to bless us, but we needed to know how we wanted to be blessed. I think Jesus asks us the same question he asked the blind man in Luke 18:41. "What do you want me to do for you?" But we're like the Laodicean church. "I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing." It says, "You don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked." We have not because we ask not.FaithI have such a desire to have more faith--to believe God for bigger things. Luke 18:27 says, "What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God." I read about the mulberry trees being thrown in the sea and mountains moving is we have faith as small as a mustard seed. I lack so much faith. I'm tired of living within my human limitations. I want to see miracles. I want to exercise my faith. I'm praying for more faith.
The story of the pharisee and tax collector in Luke 18 makes that distinction. Jesus makes the same point in Luke 7. He says a person who is only forgiven a little loves a little. The bigger the debt the more grateful we are. The bottom line is this: what God is looking for isn't righteousness. God is looking for an acknowledgement of our sinfulness and appreciation of his mercy.
I can't seem to escape this truth. I'm waking up every day thinking this thought: it's not about what I can do for God it's about what God has done for me! It takes all the pressure off of my shoulders. We have to simply cry "mercy." Sometimes I wrestle with my kids and get them in a "death grip" and they have to cry "mercy." They are acknowledging their helplessness. It's humbling. But it's the only thing that will get you out of the grip. What do you want? It's amazing how often Jesus asks people this question: "What do you want me to do for you?" I think most Christians don't know what they want God to do for them. And that's our problem. We're not believing God for any miracles. We're not holding out for any promises. We're not praying for anyting. We don't know what we want. A few months ago during our staff prayer and planning retreat we had no agenda. We prayed for an agenda. And the Spirit clearly spoke a question to me and I directed it to our staff: what do you desire of me?
I felt like the Lord wanted to bless us, but we needed to know how we wanted to be blessed. I think Jesus asks us the same question he asked the blind man in Luke 18:41. "What do you want me to do for you?" But we're like the Laodicean church. "I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing." It says, "You don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked." We have not because we ask not.FaithI have such a desire to have more faith--to believe God for bigger things. Luke 18:27 says, "What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God." I read about the mulberry trees being thrown in the sea and mountains moving is we have faith as small as a mustard seed. I lack so much faith. I'm tired of living within my human limitations. I want to see miracles. I want to exercise my faith. I'm praying for more faith.
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