This prayer, which I started yesterday, has been extremely challenging, and I’m still working on it in the middle of the night. If it changes or develops significantly over the next few days, I will re-post it, so you can see the result.
A contradiction?
“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20: NIV).
“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matthew 21:22; NIV).
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39; NIV).
Father,
I’m confused…
Jesus said that even with faith
As small as a mustard-seed,
If we believe you will give us
Whatever we ask for in prayer,
We will receive it.
But he also taught us to pray:
“Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.”
And even as he begged you
To take the cup of suffering
From his lips,
He said:
“Yet not as I will,
But as you will.”
So, when we pray,
Should we say in confident expectation:
“Thank you, Lord,”
Or just:
“Your will be done”?
Perhaps we need both,
For faith,
And submission to your will,
Go hand in hand…
Father,
You are able to do more
Than we can ask or imagine.
The outcome of our prayers
Is entirely in your hands.
Help us to offer our requests
With faith and thanks,
Whilst bowing to your will,
Like Christ himself.
Jesus was speaking to others. He was not speaking about himself. Clearly, what Jesus was asking for was not possible; it was God’s plan from the beginning.
Thanks so much for this comment. I’ve rewritten parts of the prayer to address what you said, and will re publish in in a few days when it’s settled. You were very helpful! All best wishes from Ruth XXXX
There’s so much I find hard to understand! What I love is that Christ had the power to do His own will, yet He submitted to God’s will instead. A perfect model of surrender and childlike faith :)
I fully agree – he is our wonderful, perfect example, though we can never match up to him, but that doesn’t matter, because it’s the effort God appreciates, rather than our achievements! XXXXX