Prayer is sometimes used as cover and reprieve for prejudice, misdirection, wrong thinking, even to dignify some humanistic cultural factors in lives and experiences. The person of prayer, to counter wrong in any context, needs to be committed to the idea that includes a desire on the part of the prayerful person to have God’s will in all matters. These include personal and social concerns in a troubled mix of nations and cultures. Incorporated in this objective approach are the private issues of life for persons and families. The prayerful person, following biblical precedent, ought to pray in such a way that the prayers will be honored in any event. It is appropriate that the person at prayer move toward an objectivity by bearing both conviction and request that the will of God should precede and amend any request made to God, so that his amendment is invited if the prayer request is amiss as articulated. The prayer that urges God’s will and way will inherit greater force than the one that presses for human preference only.
God’s will is to bless human beings, contingent for application on the degree to which they follow the revealed nature of God. Knowing that we will tend to believe that there is virtue related to our own views, God likely works in varieties of ways to accomplish some purposes of his will even though he may (and does) deplore some of what we do. To interfere with our follies is to take away the freedom he gave to us to qualify for a special relationship of choice about God. God is the creator of all, but the Father only of those who choose to be parented (adopted) by him. The creation moved away from God toward humanism, and continues to do so, but those who choose through Christ to be citizens in the Kingdom of God are afforded the privilege. As creator God continues whatever he wishes to continue in relation to it in grace, in an equality of treatment for all in common grace. As Father he takes care of his family, the children that relate to him through special spiritual adoption. (Romans 8:15, 23; 9:4; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5)
God, in deference to mankind’s preferences, permits some human preoccupations, like warfare, but is a person of peace. This is illustrated in his various statements in Scripture, and in such instances as rejection of David as builder of the Temple, God’s house. That house was built by Solomon, a man of peace. God’s preferences, disregarded in many situations, do not mean abandonment by God. Mankind may wink at the preferences of God, (Job 15:12; Psalm 35:19) God may wink at (overlook) the ignorance of mankind. (Acts 17:30 – KJV) God’s decision for generosity is granted from our ignorance and inability to hold to righteousness. God can manage that. Violation takes nothing from God, but denies some benefit to us. It comes down to truth. We ought to be quite careful about self and meaning. If God is not a person, we are tilting at windmills of our own making. We are at our best in making adjustments when God informs us about what is acceptable. Our initial frustrations relate to ignorance and spiritual weakness, even death.
It is clear that God will provide some slack to us, especially if we are humble to admit folly and seek solutions, part of which is gained by returning to the Father, as did the prodigal who found his free life without spiritual direction led to swine husks. Mankind is free, but we do not gain virtue from freedom. Part of our release is to seek and believe in: the will of God, the plan of God, the mercy of God, the promises of God – in the name of Jesus Christ. This process has been followed by Christians for centuries. There is something of paradox in the context of Christian life. God affords freedom to mankind, but requires some surrender of it if the person determines to follow God. It must be surrendered if, for no other reason, human beings can’t live at the level of personal righteousness, without the assistance of God in the practice of righteousness. Freedom may make us prodigal, but God wants his children to be free within the context of righteousness (truth). This is a vital matter, not up for negotiation. There is not much said by pastors in the current psychology of American life about surrender. The Holy Spirit develops God’s manner in the persons surrendered to his authority that offers worth and satisfaction to the persons of God, and to God. It is interesting that the process related to devotion is the same as that applied to the cultivation of wisdom recited by Solomon – education, leading to understanding, leading to wisdom. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020