How many times have you said to your children, “What’s the magic word?” Or asked them to say “please.” I even taught my babies how to say “please” in sign language. The funny thing was they turned it around and used the sign to try to get us to give them things. Kind of like the dog doing a trick to make his owner give him a treat.
It’s good to teach children to be patient and polite when speaking to others. As they mature, the babies eventually learn that this word is not actually a magic word used just to get treats. I wonder though, as we pray or talk to our Heavenly Father if we might not be trying to do the very same thing?
I find myself praying in those terms, “Jesus, please work in that situation. Please give me an answer. Please be with me today.” And then I add in the extra magic words, “In Jesus name, amen.” Yes, we are absolutely supposed to ask God for things, He says this very clearly in the Bible, but if I look closely I see I am actually asking Him for things He has already given me. Maybe I should be thanking Him for the gifts already in my life and claiming the promises He has clearly set before me. I would probably walk in a lot more victory and whine a lot less!
When I pray in a way that acknowledges Jesus’ presence in my life, and the fact that He always has the best planned for me even in hard circumstances, I can relax and be a lot more joyful. I am free to move forward knowing that my Father has me in His hand and I can trust Him.
My desire is to practice this trust so much that it will look like a magic trick, “How is she so calm when all that is going on around her?” But, unlike magicians, I will be glad to share how it is done!
“God is my Father, He loves me, I will never think of anything He will forget, why should I worry?” Oswald Chambers My Utmost For His Highest
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