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Our Will or God's?
WORSHIP QUOTE is from a wonderful little study of the Lord’s Prayer. The author suggests that we start with a hard look at what it means to pray "Thy will be done." OUR WILL OR GOD’S? Praying is uniting our will with the will of God. It is not an attempt to get God to do our will. It is desiring to do what delights God. It is discovering that what pleases God will ultimately bring us joy as well. It is following in his footsteps even when he leads where we fear to go. —James Mulholland, PRAYING LIKE JESUS: THE LORD’S PRAYER IN A CULTURE OF PROSPERITY, New York: HarperCollins, 2001, p. 63. ISBN 0-06-001156-4 [Of course, Jesus is not saying that our prayers should not properly articulate our needs and concerns. The model prayer goes on to mention our "daily bread" and there are numerous Scriptures that encourage disciples of Jesus to pray, and to pray specifically. My attention goes to that phrase in James 4:3, "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." Ouch!] Have a great week, Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Music and Worship Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.carlstam.org www.sbts.edu |