Inspiration Thursday - Have Thine Own Way

When most Christians pray, we spend a great deal of time in intercessory prayer. That is to say, we are asking God to do something in the life of someone else. We ask Him to heal friends or family that are sick, and we should. We call on God to give comfort to those who are mourning the loss of a loved one and it is the right thing to do. We go before the throne to ask the Creator to make His presence know in someone the life of another, and He is pleased. However, there is one request that we could make that would be most beneficial to our relationship with Christ and the answer is before us. We could ask God to give us knowledge, wisdom and understanding of His Word and His ways. King David was described as a man after God's heart and reading the 119th Psalm it is easy to see why. David recognized that God has commanded all of His children to know Him better when he wrote, "You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently. Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes!" (Psalm 119:4-5). David may have spent more time seeking knowledge, wisdom, and understanding from the Lord than he did praying for sick friends, or grieving relatives. David understood that if God granted him the close relationship that he sought, he could be the instrument of change in the lives of others rather than asking God to send someone else to be that conduit through which God works in the lives of people we know and love. Where do we find the wisdom and knowledge that we wish to have." David knew the answer when he wrote, "How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart,That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O LORD!Teach me Your statutes." (Psalm 119:9-12) David realized that we often get distracted by things that don't really matter in this life, therefore he asked God to give him focus and show him how to set his priorities in life when he petitioned the Creator, "Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way." (Psalm119:37) David understood one thing about God's Word that all of us would do well to know when he acknowledged, "Forever, O LORD,Your word is settled in heaven." (Psalm 119:89) Through all of this scripture, David seems to be asking of God, "When it comes to my life Lord, have Thine own way." Have a blessed day.