There are those who believe they can tell God what they want and they will receive it. There are those who see people pray for what they want and receive it just like they asked.

What we don’t see is how much time that person who received their request has spent in learning what pleases God.

Too often we go into our prayer time trying to bring God around to our way of thinking, then we wonder why our requests are not being answered with an immediate yes.

God is Sovereign. What He says is. Period. We don’t bring Him to our way, we take ourselves to His way.

Sounds totalitarian, right?
The thing is, God is not only Sovereign, He is omniscient. He knows everything—EVERYthing. Past, present, future. About me, about you, about all of us. He knows what is best for each of us and sometimes that means He withholds what we’re asking for.

Parents, if your five-year-old asked to take your car for a drive all alone, which of you would hand over the keys? That sweet kid only wants to go around the block to take a friend a toy to play with because that one has been feeling bad. C’mon! Give him the keys….

Of course, we would not give a child the keys and tell him or her to be careful. We understand the risks. We might make a different way for the child to accomplish what is wanted, but that request would get a no, because we love our child and want the best.

God is more interested in growing our character and accomplishing His will than making all our wishes come true. He is not a cosmic vending machine that operates when we put in some time at church and give extra offerings.

He is the One who knows the whole plan and sees the whole of life in one picture. He knows what we need and where we’re needed. He grows us and teaches us and uses us to get His will done.

If we will strive to align with Him in every way, we will ask Him for the things that please Him and know without a doubt that He hears us and listens to us.

Are you ready to be heard by God? Let’s do this!

Coffee, Bible, Journal.

To view the video of this devotion and others, subscribe to my YouTube Channel. (Today’s will be available later today.)