Sometimes I think we Christians lie when we pray.
Well, maybe not overtly lie, but we certainly attempt to mislead.
The question would be: Are we trying to mislead ourselves, or God?
Consider these words, most Christ-followers are no strangers to:
“God, please bless this ministry.”
“We want your blessings, Father.”
“Pour out your blessings on us, LORD.”
“God bless America.”
The blessings of God… We ask for them, beg for them, bid on them, claim them, demand them and expect them.
Yet, in almost every case, when we ask God for blessings, what we’re really asking for, looks more like material abundance, favorable circumstances, and little or no resistance to our plans.
The problem though, is that a thoughtful look in the Scriptures, gives us a very different picture of what it means to be blessed in the eyes of God.
One would assume that those doing the will of God; those being faithful and bold and passionate, would surely be the recipients of God’s blessings, yet from the Patriarchs to the Prophets, from the disciples to the early church, the Bible paints a picture of blessedness, that doesn’t quite match our modern expectations.
– The Patriarchs endured perpetual instability, great family turmoil and constant struggle to remain faithful, as they shepherded God’s covenant people.
– The Prophets may have gained favor with a king or two for a time, but the bulk of their lives was lived in dangerous, relentless and exhausting opposition to the communities they served… and rarely ended well.
– The disciples sat in the front row for the miracles and teachings of Jesus, but did so as homeless, wandering, never-resting gypsies, who gave-up everything for their long-term mission trip.
– The early church congregations were continually surrounded by noisy, hostile cultures, threatening to remove or destroy or compromise them.
Reality check:
Does this sound like what we are asking God for?
Does this feel like a blessing to you?
You still wanna pray that prayer?
Jesus lays out clearly in the Beatitudes, that a truly blessed life is a humble, sober, often emotionally weighty existence, lived intimately connected to the pain and well-being of others and unswervingly obedient to the will of the Father.
He doesn’t say anything about lots of cool stuff, comfortable situations, financial prosperity, national success or great social standing… (and he sure as heck doesn’t promise a sweet ride).
The truth is friends, God does want to bless His people. He wants to place us in situations (sometimes difficult, even painful ones) where we can glorify Him; where His presence and power are displayed with clarity, and where fellowship with Him is the sweetest spot we could find ourselves.
God wants to bless us by giving-us the gift of relying solely on Him, of emptying ourselves of all the pollution of pride, selfishness, vanity and power that make us think life is about our comfort, ease or prosperity.
The blessings of God were, and are never about making life easier but about making it matter.
You see, God’s blessings come with His presence. It is that presence, His Spirit, which brings strength and encouragement and power, that we might seek His will and reflect His character in whatever our circumstances.
Sometimes I don’t think we as Christians want God to bless us, we just want Him to reward us.
You and I are encouraged, invited and commanded to ask for God’s blessings.
Just be careful what you pray for.
