October 3

Today’s Reading - Luke 11:9-13

Thought:
God gives, God answers, God opens. As Christians, we don’t struggle with this
truth, but we do sometimes struggle with what God gives, how God answers, and
which door God opens. When we pray, we typically have a very specific idea in mind
about what we need and how we want God to answer. As long as God’s answers are in
line with our desires, we are satisfied, but what if they are not? What if God’s answers
are different than we had asked? In those times, we often wonder why God is not
blessing us in the way that we need. When it comes to understanding our lives, we are
much like children. Our children may want to eat candy at every meal and stay up late
every night, but, as parents, we know that those choices are not the best for them. So,
we give them good food and help them get the sleep they need. In much the same
way, the things that we often think are best or needed are, in reality, not in our best
interest. Just like we do with our children, God sometimes overrules our wants in order
to give us what we need for our benefit. He is always a giver of good things. Our part is
to take our requests to Him and then trust Him to give us what is best.
How can we learn to see good in God’s answers to our prayers?