"Dear God, please make me as wealthy as possible. And healthy. And happy, too. Oh, and make life easier for my friends and family, and for me too, please." Amen.
Think about this, how many of your prayers did I just describe? I know that describes a lot of mine.
Hey, I make them sound so spiritual, and I say the kindest words and ask humbly, but overall I think that it's very important to me that God makes me happy.
It's more important to God that he is my happiness.
Just recall the Lord's Prayer. How does it start? With a term of endearment between you and God. Then a reminder that you're sitting on the lap of the CEO of the universe. Then you get down to business—God's business—and ask that everything you think, say, do, and plan is part of his business plan. "Oh, and God, all those things you want … I want to want them, too. I trust you. I follow you."
And, finally, then is the request for health and wealth and earthly circumstances all summed up in "daily bread."
"Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God" (Proverbs 30:8-9).
See that? The writer of this proverb prays, "God, do what is best for us (you and me, God)." Relationship with God is primary. Things are secondary.
When God is first for you, you'll get both. When things are first for you, you'll get neither.
PRAYER: Dear God, help me pray more about us. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: Meditate on the Lord's Prayer as I described it above. Pause. Take some time to ponder the meaning of each phrase, and especially how it asks, "God, do what is best for us."
Daron Lindemann
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