And God Said No!!

Ever wonder why during the many times we pray to God for something it seems He never answers our prayers? Somebody shared this image in my FB account and I couldn't help but reread this for maybe 4 to 5 times. Just sort of hit me in the head and I got a feeling of enlightenment. Do take the time to read it and maybe understand why at times, (make that most of the times), God seems so distant and unhearing of our supplications.

Source

Here are some of the things that went through my mind as I read this:

- On asking God to take away my habit:
I remember something I read before and I quote it here:

A bad habit never disappears miraculously. It's an undo-it-yourself project. ~Abigail Van Buren (1918–2013)

So asking God to take away your bad habit is tantamount to asking for a miracle. God cannot and will not take these bad habits from you. These have been acquired through time and continuous practice and can only be undone by yourself. And being entrenched in God's will can actually help in giving up these bad habits.

John 2: 15-17. "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

- On making my handicapped child whole:

God has a master plan and each of us has a role to play in this plan. Each role is different from another. Unfortunately (or so it seems) for some, it is to go through the world as handicapped or with a disability. Yet, everyone is created ultimately to give glory to God. In the afterlife, everyone who believes and does the will of God will be healed of all their infirmities.

John 9: 1-3. "As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him."

- On asking God for patience:
Here's another quote that ties up with this:

“When you encounter various trials, big or small, be full of joy. They’re opportunities to learn patience.” Scott Curran."

By asking God to grant you patience, you are in effect asking for more trials and hardships. For indeed patience can only be learned through frustrations and challenges and failures.

Jeremiah 29:11. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

- On asking God for happiness:

When are we truly happy? For some it could be when they have money. For others, when they have love. Or travel. Or power. Whatever it is, I think happiness is all about attitude. I can have all the riches and fame in the world and still not be happy. Or I may have just a little but be happy. One thing I learned, though, is that we should count our blessings and thank the Lord for everything we have. For indeed happiness is a choice.

1 Timothy 6:17. "Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy."

- On asking God to spare me from pain:

In my last post, I talked about suffering. Why does God allow so much tribulations and anguish? Allow me to quote from my post: >"For, if it were for His justice, every sin would inevitably bring death, as the Apostle says: "Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death (James 1:15). In place of death, God gives healing through suffering." St. Nikolai Velimirovich

Pain and suffering is God's way of bringing us closer to Him. To heal us of our sins and have the chance to share in His eternal kingdom.

- On asking God to make my spirit grow:
I came upon a quote when I was making this post which I feel is so appropriate to this item. Let me share this with you.

We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.
– Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

The body is only temporary. Our soul and spirit live on when we die. So we should be more attuned to God and His will, so that we may grow even more in spirit. But this must come from us first.

Isaiah 18:5. "For before the harvest, as soon as the bud blossoms And the flower becomes a ripening grape, Then He will cut off the sprigs with pruning knives And remove and cut away the spreading branches."

- On asking God for physical things to enjoy life:

There's a saying that came to mind when I read this. I don't know who the author is but it goes this way: "What good is the grass if the horse is already dead?" Yes, material things can bring pleasure and value to our lives here in this world but these will all be useless if we are all dead, right? So we should pray for longer lives instead so we can enjoy what life can offer, be it more or be it less.

Ecclesiastes 6:9. "Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless like chasing the wind."

- On asking God to help me love others:
"But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13. God commanded us that we are to love Him above everything in this world, with all our hearts, minds and bodies. Then He commanded us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. This is what it is all about, actually.

Have a blessed weekend, everyone.

All images courtesy of Pixabay, unless otherwise indicated.