We were boarding what would be a long flight. I was tired and wanted to stretch out and be comfortable. So far, the seat next to me was empty and I was so hopeful that it would remain that way. As the line of passengers began to dwindle I did something that led to a very life changing event. I prayed to God that no one would sit next to me.
Yup! I bowed my head, closed my eyes and sent up my request to the throne of God. I’d done so before. I thought nothing of it. But then an incredible thing happened.
In the midst of my prayer, before I could finish my one line request, I saw Jesus. He was praying in the Garden, leaning hard against a stone. Dust covered his clothes. Sweat was running off his face. Tears were in his eyes and his lips were dry.
He lifted his head,
turned to me.
And said,
“That’s what you come here for?”
The look on his face and the sound in his voice had an immediate effect on me. I felt so ashamed. How small I was. How petty and selfish I had been. A prayer for an open seat became clearly un-Christ like.
I determined then that I will no longer pray for nothing.
So what if I have to sit next to someone on the flight. So what if it rains and spoils my golf plans. So what if my team doesn’t win. So what if I have to make adjustments or alternate plans. I will no longer pray for that which matters none. I will endure the small things to become bigger and better.
I will pray instead for the things that Jesus died for me to enjoy – Self-control, wisdom, purity, virtue, patience, endurance, love and such.
I wouldn’t be ashamed to go to the Garden and pray for those things.
5 comments:
I absolutely love this. Impactful. Challenging. Oh the power of His high expectations. Thank you, God. Amen. Amen.
When I was a little girl I would tell my grandmother that I was going to pray for small things like that and she would say, "Girl, the Lord ain't thinkin' about your _______(insert total non-issue here)." As I get older, my focus widens, but I still catch myself going to Him for the minutiae. I pray that I use the minutiae as an opportunity for wise stewardship over and active participation in my own life. Thanks for the reminder, my friend.
Oh, and thanks for the blogging suggestion; my mother was very touched, and it was therapeutic for us as a family.
Love from YSIC,
Karon
Man, thats deep. I appreciate you sharing this.
When you are in the midst of your situation, your problem seems so big, but when you really put things in perspective then our selfishness becomes evident. When I was young I prayed for snow days so I wouldn't have to go to school (My kids pray for that now)or for my mom to take me to McDonald's instead of making dinner. As I got older my prayer was for more money and a nice car. (God's still working on those). Now my prayer is for 30 minutes of uninterupted sleep...How things have changed
Very uplifting. Reminded me of the wise one, King Solomon. He could have asked God for many things, yet all he requested was wisdom and understanding. Look how he turned out? Our God is able to do so much more than we can ask or think or imagine, yet our focus is so limited. Self control, wisdom, purity, virtue, patience, endurance, love, and such will bring us so much more - you might get yourself a private jet instead of two seats on a plane. I will remember to pray sensibly and teach my boys to do likewise. God bless you for blessing me.
Love always
Melanie in Orlando
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