April 26, 2011

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Today’s Word

“Felix hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him. After two years went by in this way . . . ." Acts 24:26-27 (NLT)

Today’s Reflection

Do you come back to God over and over only seeking to get what you want? Governor Felix came back to Paul over and over during Paul’s two years of imprisonment, not because he wanted more of God but because he wanted something for himself, in his case bribe money.

Jesus did tell us many times to ask for big things, but he told us to do so “in His Name”, “according to His will” (I John 5:14). Coming to Jesus for what we want instead of what He wants misses the central message of Christianity. The fact is that if we believe and subsequently receive nothing more than we have now, we are blessed. The resurrected Jesus is competently running the universe and he will, sooner or later, make all things new, redeem all things, including what is lacking in your life.

CS Lewis wrote that the fundamental prayer of the Christian is “Thy will be done, moving mountains can wait.”

Today’s Prayer

“Lord, forgive me for asking you to fulfill my wants instead of my needs. Please lead me to the joy of the prayer of relinquishment. ‘Lord, whatever you want from me, no matter what desire of mine you never fulfill, I am Yours and I will seek to honor you in all things. Lord, Thy will be done”