“According to your faith be it unto you.” Matthew 9:29
Dear Ones:
What are we specifically trusting the Lord for? James tells us in his epistle: “…You have not because you ask not.” (4:2) He then adds: “…(You) receive not because you ask amiss” (v.3). The big thing to grasp here is that God DOES answer prayer, but He does so only if it coincides with the will of His heart. The Lord Jesus told His disciples concerning prayer: “…for your Father knows what things ye have need of, before you ask Him.” (Matt. 6:8) Paul tells us also about prayer in his letter to the Romans: “…the Spirit, … makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Rom. 8:27) It becomes very clear, and very quickly, that we are to align our petitions to God with the will of God for us, and for all men. This is not an easy thing to do, but it is made a good deal easier when we seek His will FIRST in the word of God, trusting the Holy Spirit to guide us.
We have seen in past devotionals where Moses and David were men after God’s own heart. They were men who were flawed by sin and limitations, as we are. They were like Elijah who was a man, “…subject to like passions as we are.” (Ja. 5:17) But they were all men who were seekers of God, in great pursuit of God…men of prayer. What did they specifically seek? In David’s case we find him asking the question: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in His holy place?” He answers his own question: “He that has clean hands, and a pure heart.” (Ps. 24:4) Here is a man who realizes what is essential for him to come to God. So then, what will he seek and pray for? In Psalm 51:10, we find David praying: “Create in me a clean HEART; and renew a right spirit within me.” What does he want, need, and see as imperative? Simply put, it is a heart that is cleansed from all sin, and the renewal of a right attitude towards God. Charles Wesley puts his request to God like this: “A heart resigned, submissive, meek, My dear Redeemer’s throne; Where only Christ is heard to speak, where Jesus reigns alone.”
When the people of Israel were approaching the promised land, although they were still in the wilderness, Moses sent twelve spies into the land in order to bring back a report of what they saw. Two of those spies brought back a good report in spite of the enemies and obstacles in the land. Why were they different from the other ten spies? They were men whose hearts were full of faith in God, and they believed God MORE than what they saw. They had victor’s hearts because they were clean and true.
Dear Father, give us grace to trust You for that which we KNOW is your will, clean hands and a pure heart. Give to us a “right spirit,” a heart full of faith, believing You to be greater than all that we see. Give us to be like Joshua and Caleb, with hearts that will follow You fully. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad