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It is not wise to pray for trials. I have
known a number of Christians who have prayed this way, and it
has brought the severe experience of trial even when the
circumstances seemed not too terrible. The Lord is going to allow testings and trials in our lives because He loves us. We do not show ourselves more earnest or deep because we impale ourselves on the thorns that we actually pray in by our foolishness. The way to pray is to ask the Lord to allow anything that will make the changes in us that will produce the likeness of Himself. This takes years, and there will never be a time in this life where we will say " There! Now I am just like Jesus." We learn that He alone is more than adequate, and when we feel adequate, danger is just around the corner. Although many of the deep spiritual riches are only available to the prayer who pursues them, one of the most arrogant positions a belier can take is to decide that he knows how God should test him. We don't seek the trial, we seek submission. We don't beg to be broken and smashed, we beg to submit to the surgical knife of the Lover of our soul. We long to have less of us, and more of Him, and we must not presume to tell Him how our transformation should be brought about. I must be willing for all of these things, but prioritizing God's work in my heart and life is equivalent to trying to take control of the plan, and that I must not do. |
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