“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”
Proverbs 16:3
The “trick,” if you will, to seeing this Bible passage come to be in our lives is seeking God’s purposes in our prayers. But even if we have been believers for a long time, it can be hard to line up our will with God’s.
Many years ago I was doing volunteer work in Dénia, a beautiful town on the Mediterranean Sea on the east coast of Spain. That volunteer work included teaching English classes where one of my adult students was Manolo, my friend and leader of the prayer service at the church there. He became, to me, a stunning example of what it might look like to pray in alignment with Scripture.
When Manolo was diagnosed with cancer, the church wanted to pray for healing. He insisted that, rather, they pray that God be glorified through his cancer. Manolo’s witness during his losing battle caused members of his family to know Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Remember how Jesus Himself told His friends at the death of His dear friend Lazarus, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory” (John 11:4).
Many years ago I was doing volunteer work in Dénia, a beautiful town on the Mediterranean Sea on the east coast of Spain. That volunteer work included teaching English classes where one of my adult students was Manolo, my friend and leader of the prayer service at the church there. He became, to me, a stunning example of what it might look like to pray in alignment with Scripture.
When Manolo was diagnosed with cancer, the church wanted to pray for healing. He insisted that, rather, they pray that God be glorified through his cancer. Manolo’s witness during his losing battle caused members of his family to know Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Remember how Jesus Himself told His friends at the death of His dear friend Lazarus, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory” (John 11:4).
Scripture Focus
John 11:1-14
Insight
“True prayer is the trading of the heart with God.” (Charles Spurgeon, 1834-1892)
Bible In A Year
- Numbers 21-22
- Psalm 72
- John 13