We have to admit to ourselves that this principle sounds very simple. In theory, it is. We so often think about something that has been pressing on our hearts and minds and we say to ourselves – “I am really going to start praying and believing for this thing (however great or small it may be).” We tend to think that’s all there is to it and in our human mind we want the receiving part to come quickly! I can recall a few times in my life where it all worked out just that simply.
However, I recall more times in my life when I was frustrated with these three “easy” steps because it wasn’t working out as I thought it should. In our spiritual journey these frustrating times often come with the temptation to place blame on God, the people around us, or even ourselves, and give up on whatever it is we are praying and believing for. But, in these moments Jesus is inviting us to take a deeper look at what these three steps truly require, and as always, there are wonderful promises found in the Word for our obedience.
Words can become so familiar to our daily use that sometimes changing them up a bit can give us a new and refreshed perspective.
What if instead of saying…
Pray, Believe, Receive
Discuss, Understand, Accept
Discuss
Instead of simply taking our requests to the Father, we should lay our desires at His feet and then hear what He has to say about them. To hear, we must take time to be quiet and listen, searching the Word to see what He says about the matter.
Isaiah 55:8
My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, says the Lord. And My ways are far beyond anything you can imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.
Understand
As we are listening for His voice and searching the Word we can pray for spiritual understanding, asking Him for strength to lay down our worldly views and selfish desires bringing them into alignment with His will for us. Open our eyes to what He has planned for us.
Matthew 13;12
To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge.
Philippians 4:9
Keep putting into practice all you learned and received form me- everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Accept
God’s plan for us is so much greater than we can imagine. Even though at times it’s also much harder than we imagined. Accept what He has shown you in your time of discussion and understanding. When we obey and are open to the Holy Spirit’s leading, we become free to accept all He has created us for.
Ephesians 3:20
God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, and above all, you could ever ask, imagine, or think. According to His power at work in you.
We want to thank Jill Winders for sharing this post.
Women's Ministry 