A Higher Way? (Chapter 9) (Thursday in the third week of Lent)
PAUSE
As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly to recenter my scattered senses upon the presence of God.
(pause)
I pray Psalm 23: 1-3, repeating the words slowly, several times:
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.”
REFLECT
Bible: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55: 8-9)
Book passage: Sometimes God denies my prayers because He has something even better for me. I breathe an easy amen to God’s promise through Jeremiah: “I know the plans I have for you … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11). My heart rises to pray with Thomas s Kempis: “O Lord you know what is best for me. Give what you will, how much you will and when you will.” (p. 114)
ASK
Ask myself: Billy Graham’s wife Ruth said that “God has not always answered my prayers. If He had, I would have married the wrong man several times!” (p. 226)
Ask the Lord: Is it possible that the reason for my unanswered prayer is that God has a “higher way”? If so, I ask Him now to help me trust His alternative Plan, even if every fiber of my being wants something completely different.
YIELD
Reflection of an unknown soldier from the American Civil War:
I asked for strength that I might achieve;
He made me weak that I might obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things;
I was given grace that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy;
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men; I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
I was give life that I might enjoy all things.
I received nothing that I asked for, all that I hoped for. My prayer was answered, I was most blessed.
Amen
