Saturday, August 23, 2014
Luke 11:13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
WHEN NOT TO SAY: "IF IT'S YOUR WILL"
Nothing pleases our heavenly Father more than to see His adopted sons and daughters in Christ praying with confidence that He will hear and answer them for Jesus' sake.
In our prayer lives we've been taught to say, in certain circumstances: "Not my will, but Yours be done." When we ask for things we're not sure about, whether they'll serve for our good (recovery from an illness, the gift of material possessions, etc). We leave the final say-so in God's hands ... the how, when, and what we will receive in response to our petition.
There are certain gifts, though, for which we need not pray "If it is Your will" since God has already revealed that He wants us to have them. Things like the forgiveness of sins, a firmer faith, greater strength to resist temptation, more heavenly-mindedness. We already know our Father desires these blessings for us so we may pray for them unconditionally.
The same is true when it comes to the gift of the Holy Spirit. Recall the story of the disciples asking Jesus for a prayer lesson. He went on to give the Lord's Prayer as a model, adding "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him." He was assuring us that as often as we petition God for His Spirit, He will without fail grant our request.
What incentive this gives us to pray often: Father, bless me with Your Spirit so my joy in Jesus may grow, my understanding of Your Word made more complete, my love for You may increase, and so that I might be given power to live a victorious Christian life preserved in faith till life's end. It's a gift we can be sure He will give to us ... unconditionally!
Come, oh, come, Thou quickening Spirit, God from all eternity!
May Thy power never fail us; Dwell within us constantly.
Then shall truth and life and light Banish all the gloom of night.
Prompt us, Lord, to come before Him With a childlike heart to pray;
Sigh in us, O Holy Spirit, When we know not what to say.
Then our prayer is not in vain, And our faith new strength shall gain.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 226:1, 5)
