Under General George Patton’s  command in World War II, the army had been driving back the Nazis until fog and rain forced the troops to stop. Patton telephoned a chaplain to ask, “Do you have a good prayer for weather?” Immediately the chaplain complied with the general’s request. He wrote a prayer, which Patton ordered to be printed and distributed to the 250,000 soldiers under his command, directing them to pray for clear weather.

The Scriptures teach us that God wants us to bring our requests to Him, and we can be confident that He cares and will answer (Phil. 4:6; 1 John 5:14-15). But He is never obligated to answer in the way we want or just because many people are praying.

When the Son of God was agonising in Gethsemane, He made His request in humble submission to His Father by saying, “Your will be done” (Matt. 26:42). That Gethsemane principle ought to govern all our praying.

The Father’s will is always infused with infinite love and wisdom. So instead of trying to pressure God because we think He’s obligated to us, as trusting children we gladly commit to Him our desires. Whatever He grants will prove in the end to be the best of blessings.

Instead of trying to twist God’s arm, put yourself in His hands.

Author

vernon c. grounds

Topics

Our Daily Bread