In my recent readings and studying, the Lord has revealed a surprising pattern. (It should not have been a surprise to me…but it was.) In my study of Titus I have learned so much about the Apostle Paul and the life that he lived. He lived a very UNcomfortable, UNsafe life. He calls himself a SLAVE. A bondservant.
Slaves & bondservants do not live comfortable, cushy, exravagant lives.
In fact, a prophet of God named Agabus told Paul that if he went to Jerusalem, the Jews there would bind him and deliver him to the Gentiles. Paul’s friends who were with him when he heard this “pleaded with him to not go to Jerusalem.” (Acts 21:12) What was Paul’s response? “What are you doing?...For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13)
WOW!!!! Paul embraced hardship. He was READY to endure an uncomfortable life! In his lifetime, Paul was falsely accused (Acts 21:27-29), he was beaten by an angry mob (Act 21:30-3), he was “adrift at sea, on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” (2 Corinthians 11:25-27)I looked at Paul’s life. Then, I looked at my life. I thought about my prayers and I found that this is what my prayers are like:
- Lord, please keep us safe as we travel. Let no one get hurt. Bring us back safely, please.
- Lord, please take me out of this work situation. It’s not enjoyable to go to work when people treat me like that.
- Lord, please take this pain away. I would just love to be feeling better and be healthy again. Please make me feel better.
- Lord, please let this trial pass.
- Lord, please BLESS me, my family, this home, this food, etc.
And so on and on and on.
Recently the Holy Spirit has revealed to me how incredibly selfish, me-centered my prayers are. I am constantly praying for me to be COMFORTABLE, to be SAFE. To be what I want to be. God did not call His people to live cozy, enjoyable lives. He has called to a life that glorifies and pleases HIM, whether that be in comfort or in persecution. He has called us to HIS will, not ours. So that means we may endure hardships. We may live very uncomfortable, tough lives. And if this is what brings Him more glory, then so be it! Which do you prefer?
Living an easy life yet not knowing your Creator & Maker in an intimate way?
Or living a radical, crazy life and knowing and loving your Savior in a way you never could before?
Laura Story is a perfect example of a modern day believer who understands the concept of this:
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things
We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise
Francis Chan writes:
“We are consumed with safety. Obsessed with it actually. Now, I’m not saying it’s wrong to pray for God’s protection, but I am questions how we’ve made safety our highest priority. We’ve elevated safety to the neglect of whatever God’s best is, whatever would bring God the most glory, or whatever would accomplish His purposes in our lives and in the world.” –Crazy Love
Whoa. "We've elevated safety to the neglect of whatever God's best is." Yikes.
So, will you be willing to pray with me like this?...
- God, bring me closer to you…whatever it takes!
- If you are best glorified by a tragedy while we’re on this trip, so be it!
- If you want me to be in this tough work situation for a LONG time, if that’s what brings you more glory Lord, so be it.
- If this pain causes me to draw closer to you Lord, let me rejoice in the pain.
- If this trial is causing others to seek your name, Lord let me be in this trial so that others may be saved.
- Lord, sometimes your blessings come through rains, storms, hard nights. Lord, thank you for blessing us this way.
“People who are obsessed with Jesus aren’t consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God’s kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress.”
–Francis Chan
THAT is what I want
