Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. – Psalm 86:11
I have noticed that prayers are often filled with what we want from God. Please do this and please do that. Help this person and such things. We should do better. No proper relationship is built simply upon transactions.
When someone comes to you repeatedly only when they want something without any other purpose, it is very easy to grow embittered, taken for granted. While this is bad, what’s worse is the fact that we do this to our Heavenly Father when we only turn to Him to satisfy our wants and sooth our fears. Certainly we should confess to Him and share our concerns, but why do we not speak to God with such regularity and love that we share our simple observations and seek His guidance as a Father instead of mere benefactor.
The Apostle tells us, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). And, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6). If we sincerely pray without ceasing, we are always conscious of God’s presence and love. Believing that He leads us beside still waters, shouldn’t we treat Him as a companion and not a servant to fulfill our wishes?
With reverence and respect, we should ask the Lord not to bless our choices but to teach us His way. We should try to see things from a heavenly perspective, His point of view. What choices would He make? How would He approach the day?
This divine vantage point is the essence of Christ’s earthly ministry and the gift of His teaching. The Gospel tells us that Jesus of Nazareth was and is God With Us, and that He died to make us free to follow His will. “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father” (Ephesians 2:18).
Teach us your way, O Lord; we will walk in your truth: unite our hearts to fear your name. Amen.