“I’m not what you would call a big fan of country music,” Stan said one morning, “but some of the songs sure do have great lyrics.”
“Anything particular in mind?” I responded.
“Yeah, Garth Brooks had one about how he was thankful for unanswered prayer.”
“How could a person be thankful for unanswered prayer?” I asked.
“Praying for the wrong thing.”
“Praying for something less than the best God has in His storehouse.”
Stan continued, “That definitely happened with me shortly after I became a Christian.”
“In what way?” I asked.
“I really wanted to change jobs in my career. There was an opening for a job I thought I really wanted. I prayed and prayed, but didn’t get the job. It was offered to a friend of mine.”
“Did that make you mad at God?” I asked.
“I was sorely disappointed, but, no, I can’t say that I was mad at God.”
“And when it turned out that God had a different plan for me, one that was much better, I was very thankful He had not answered my prayer. If I had been offered and accepted the other job, I wouldn’t have been where God wanted me to be so He could use me.”
“The point,” Stan continued, “is that I need always to seek the Lord’s guidance in what I pray for. Often it is a lot better to simply let the Holy Spirit do the praying for me. He works with the Father to do His will in and through me.”
“In other words,” I added, “I am to know that God’s plans for me are far better than anything I might think for myself, and I am to seek His plans rather than mine. Is that the point?”
“You got it,” Stan said with a big smile. “Now I just have to get it on a regular basis!”
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Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for all of my prayers you have not answered because I was praying for something less than the best you had in store for me. I need and I ask for your constant leading in what I pray for and about. Please, Lord, move in me so that I pray only in accord with your will and that I truly seek you and your kingdom first Amen.
Waiting for the Train 