God is all powerful, sovereign in all things. We can come to Him and let our needs and requests be known to Him.
At the same time, we cannot approach Him as if He were a vending machine or a genie in a bottle, granting us three wishes. Even in drawing our circles for prayer, obtaining our requests should not be our goal.
Drawing circles becomes not the means of obtaining what we want but the means of learning more about the character of God through prayer.
“When we find ourselves in situations that are beyond our control or beyond our comprehension, we pray.” (Mark Batterson, The Circle Maker, page 53)
Situations beyond our understanding remind us of just how needy we are. We are limited in our abilities. Situations beyond our control bring to our attention how much we need One who is greater than all things.We can’t take any credit as we were not able to do a single thing, in and of ourselves, to change our circumstance.
I’m reminded of the blind man whom Jesus saw one day as he walked. The man had been blind from birth. The disciples ask Jesus …
“Rabbi, why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” (John 9:2, NLT)
And Jesus’ response is basically neither …
“This happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” (verse 3)
With that, Jesus spit on the ground, made some mud with his saliva, and began to spread the mixture on the blind man’s eyes.
He told the man to go wash in the pool of Siloam. The man does as he is told and he came back seeing!
There is nothing logical at all about this miracle. Some spit, some mud and the man sees. The man who had been in darkness until this very moment, now sees light.
Jesus uses an interesting word when He says ‘displayed’. It is a word that means “to make conspicuous” (New Testament Lexical Aids). Jesus was doing something that no one would be able to explain. This healing made God known or visible in the man’s life.
Those who witnessed this miracle saw it happen with their own eyes. To be honest, it makes me kind of jealous (in a good way) to see God intervene in situations today. Today I find myself learning to pray along with Habakkuk …
“Lord, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deed, O Lord.
Renew them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.”
(Habakkuk 3: 3, NIV)
How about you? Are you in a situation beyond your control or beyond your comprehension? Won’t you pray today?
This is Day 8 of 31 Days Of Going In Circles. You can find the entire series here .
Today I am joining … Tell His Story and Coffee for Your Heart and Wed. Prayer Girls and Wedded Wed. and Works For Me and Coffee & Conversation and A Little R & R .
This looks like a great series! I always feel like I’m going in circles :). I love the prayer you shared from Habakkuk. It covers so much ground. I need to post it on my mirror to pray every morning.
Candace, that Scripture has so struck me. We hear & are amazed at what took place in biblical times. Now may He renew or do them again in our lives that we may experience His deeds. I love that the word “renew” in the Hebrew actually means –> “to live, to enjoy life, to make alive, to refresh.” As we stand in awe of His deeds, our souls are refreshed & made alive in Him.
I love the thought that sometimes, God’s miracles simply happen because they further his glory (not our ability to pray or because we somehow deserve a miracle). I am often humbled by the miracle of my husband’s recovery from cancer. While at the time, I was overjoyed and astounded by the miracle, it’s taken ten years to start to understand more of God’s bigger plan for performing the miracle (and we may have to wait until heaven to hear ‘the rest of the story’).
Anita, it is amazing how we never cease to be amazed when God intervenes in our lives. I know there are times all I need to do is think of what He has done in my life & I become overwhelmed. It is for His glory & we reap the privilege of being blessed.
You know I love the book that you are doing your series on for October and I love hearing your perspective as you dig into prayer. Our lives should be focused on God and not what we are going to get next because He will certainly provide and surprise us when we least expect. Happy Wednesday!
Mary, His goodness to us continually amazes me. I am so coming to learn He is truly a provisional God & He provides what He knows to be best for each of us. Have a great Thurs!
All Jesus needed was a little “spit and mud” to work a miracle! Sounds like the ingredients of a messy marriage, Joanne! He’s all about opening our eyes to His healing and redemption, isn’t He?! Love this and thanks so much for your inspirational words here and your kindness to me “over there”, my friend!
Yes, spit & mud, the common achieved the miraculous. And may it be so in our common lives as well. May He be what is seen above all else.
Sometimes I have to remind myself that I need Jesus and that it is a good thing. I truly can’t do anything on my own, and I am starting to prefer God helping, because He does it so much better than me!
So very true, Sarah! I am so grateful He is patient as I continue to learn.