the    sides

This is part of our weekly journey through the book of Acts. Today is from Acts 12.

Danny and I have talked a lot about prayer the last few weeks. We’ve come to the same decision regarding our prayer life.

We’ve quit praying ‘If it’s Your will.” We’re going to quit acting surprised when He answers.

If you’ve spent anytime in a church building, you’ve prayed this way. It’s how ‘the man’ teaches you to pray. Pray this ‘awesome’ prayer for healing or provision or whatever then at the very end of it, tag on the phrase - “If it’s Your will.” Next week when the prayer is answered, everybody will act all shocked and amazed at what God has done.

Disgusting, really. Completely deflates the prayer. It wussifies prayer.

Someone is going to say - “But the Bible says if you ask anything in the will of God it will happen. That’s why we say it.”

Whatever. That’s what it says but it’s not what it means.

We…no, let me change that…YOU (I’m not saying it anymore) say it because you don’t know what the will of God is and you’re trying to cover your bases. (CYA for all my military friends.) Besides it being a pansy way to pray, I wonder if it’s really prayer to begin with.

If Cayden is hungry or wants something…she doesn’t say ‘Dad, I want something to eat if it is in your will.” “Dad, can I get this game, if it’s in your will?” “Dad, may I stay up late and watch a movie, if it’s in your will?”

She asks. Boldly. Without pretense. She justs asks. If she’s in ‘my will’, the answer will be yes. If not…no. And when I say no, most of the time she’s cool with that. The kids are getting to the place where they trust me to know that there is a reason. They may not get it but they trust me. Most of the time. Sometimes they throw a fit and of course we have to deal with that. Sometimes they say ‘why’ and sometimes I tell them and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I say not right now and sometimes I say yes.

When I say yes - they never act surprised. They’re thankful but not surprised.

It’s humbling and convicting how shallow of a relationship I’ve had with my Spiritual Dad compared to them.

And that is what is going on in Acts 12. Bunch of people praying for the release of Peter and then he actually shows up and interrupts them.

Did they really believe their prayers? Who knows. The point is - they were asking away…I imagined if we could’ve heard them it would have sounded like they were demanding God to get Peter out of this jam. And the teenager that answered the back door was shocked. So shocked she left Peter outside.

God answered anyway. He’s like that.

So I’ve changed the way I pray. No more “If it’s Your will.” No more being shocked.

I’m pretty sure I can keep the first promise. I doubt I’ll ever keep the second.