Isn't this beautiful?

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom...O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days...and let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands, establish thou it."

--Ps. 90: 12, 14, 17

I have just finished the book The Wonderful Spirit-filled Life by Charles Stanley. Here is a great quote from the chapter "Preparing to Hear: the Principle of Neutrality":

"From God's perspective, the content of our prayers takes second place to the question of whether or not we are willing to obey Him. His ultimate goal is hearts and minds that are in complete harmony with His kingdom agenda. His plan for you and me is to move us to the place where we can sincerely say with Christ "Thy kingdom come [regardless of how it interferes with my plans], Thy will be done [in spite of what I expect or desire]." --p. 177.

I have been in churches of the Pentecostal tradition for 33 years now. You may also know that I grew up Catholic. For that reason, I have no problem with praying "Thy will be done." The Catholics have the sovereignty-of-God thing down pat. Some Pentecostals (let's say, a certain "stripe")have a problem with that. It reared its ugly head in the '80's, during the Prosperity Movement. "Don't pray 'Thy will be done:' that doesn't show FAITH!!" I still know brothers and sisters who believe that. But, frankly, I think it takes more faith, not less, to take our hands off and let God do what *He* wants with us.

In two different places, it is recorded that Jesus himself prayed that prayer: in the Lord's Prayer, and at Gethsemane, and I don't think anyone has ever accused Jesus of not having enough faith. And, as the quote above from Stanley's book points out, how can we expect our prayers to be "in line" with God's plan for the Kingdom? We, finite and selfish creatures that we are, will always pray our own will. That's to be expected. Since Charming's last job was sixty-hours-a-week-work-almost-every-weekend, my prayer is, Lord, give him a job that is Monday through Friday, forty hours, at, say, $80,000. But I need the Lord to bring me to the place that says, Thy will be done. Whatever will do Your work Your way.

Weird thing is, I think He is. I have always said that my biggest need is Security. Charming has been out of work before, and it is no-fun-let-me-tell-ya'. I've said, "God knows I need Security, so I believe Charming will always have a job." Sure enough, the last time Charming changed jobs, there was only a one-day lag between them.

This is Charming's eighth week out of work. I still need Security, but I am *astonished* to say, I think the Lord is teaching me that my security is in Him. And I'm coming to the place where it is easier to pray, Thy will be done. Maybe I'm learning. It's always good to be learning. And the Holy Spirit is such a gentle Teacher.

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Posted by dawilli

If our security isn't in the Lord, then we really aren't that secure, are we?

Praying your husband finds work, the Lord is good, He knows what you need, every day.

(((hugs))),
ali

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Posted by Anonymous

Barbie Heart... Your commentary is beautiful and comforting, I'm sure, to all who read. As your big sister, the Language Addict, may I offer a new tier of security to your journey...

In all but 2 verses in the NT in which the word "faith" appears, it is the Greek word "pistis." This word does not mean faith at all. It should be translated "Trusting with total reliance upon." Big Difference, because faith is an act of the soul. Trust is an act of the spirit and can only be experienced in the spiritual Kingdom realm.

King James used the word which had been translated into the Latin Vulgate BIble by his predecessors. That word was "fidus" not "pistis." (you know Semper Fidelis? Ever "Faithful?") But Jesus did not speak of "faith," he spoke of "Trust."

The difference is this: Faith is believing He can. Trust is knowing He will. The disciples in the boat that was being ravaged by the storm cried out to the Master to save them--They had faith that he could do it, but they cried in fear because they really didn't trust that He WOULD do it. Jesus' response was "Where is your TRUST?" not "Where is your Faith?" They always had the faith to believe He could save them. Jesus wanted them to totally "Trust" that He WOULD save them.

You can see this difference when Christ called Peter to step out of the boat and walk upon the water toward Him. Peter had "trust and reliance" that he could do this supernatural feat, and so he stepped onto the water. It worked for him until he allowed "faith" to creep back in his soul where fear was also residing. It was only then that Peter began to sink.

Walking in Trust is not a work of the flesh. It takes the supernatural move of the Spirit within us to exercise real trust and reliance upon God. How do you get it? The only way I know is to walk through the Valley of the Unknown tomorrows just as you and Charming are doing right now. Our Mother knew this place--she didn't have faith--she had trust that God would always provide. And as you and I both know, He always did.

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