PRAYER AND A SOVEREIGN GOD

PRAYER AND A SOVEREIGN GOD!

Ps 99:1

99:1 The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.

Dan 4:34-35

34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

           Brighter minds have undertaken the subject of the sovereignty of God. To me, and I suppose I am a pragmatist, God can be nothing else but sovereign or else he ceases to be God. If I could nudge God either to the right or to the left, and prompt Him to move, then I would have displaced Him and stolen His throne. If I could push Him and cause him to hurry or pull Him and cause Him to slow then I would have replaced Him. Yet we try to do these things all the time.

           We attempt to manipulate God by being “good” thinking that will secure His favor. We demonstrate our displeasure with God’s judgments by being “bad.” When God acts in a way that seems unreasonable to us we resist and revolt so that God might be brought back to His senses. We throw a temper tantrum until God awakes to our way of thinking. We are constantly trying to manipulate God for our own purposes.

           What is even more confusing is that God has created us in His own image. We have been given a mind to think and a will to act. Adam named the animals (Genesis 2:20) and God confirmed those names. We have been given self determination and the ability by our choices to control our destinies. Yet God is still God!

           Prayer has been given to us and it stands as the only means of moving God on our behalf. We can’t nudge, push nor pull but we have been invited to pray “that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” The mind nearly explodes with the contemplation of it all.

           If I can’t push, pull or prod the One who sits in solitary splendor then it is important for me to learn His nature. If prayer has been given as a gift then it is important to know His heart. David, in Psalm 37:23, tells us that the steps of a good man are “ordered” by the Lord. This speaks of God’s sovereign direction of my affairs. Verse 26 speaks of the merciful nature of God. It is essential that I know this sovereign God and His nature.

           This sovereign God put on the robe of humanity to feel our pain and frustration. He became familiar with our limitations and allowed Himself to be contained by space, restricted by time and controlled by circumstance. He was touched by the feelings of our infirmities. He knew us that we might know Him.

Heb 4:15-16

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Dear Lord, Thou art the only wise God! You know the end from the beginning. You are kind and merciful. You know that we are dust. Look upon us today and act in concord with Thy knowledge and Thy nature. Be to us the Almighty God and let us be Thy children. AMEN