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Program Notes or Transcript

Do you generally pray “my will be done” or “thy will be done?” Could the two prayers actually be the same?  Hi this is Doug Flemming your prayer partner on this edition of Take Five, a production of the Church of the Nazarene.  I have three friends who are pregnant now, just weeks or months away from having their babies.  One of them asked, "Is it selfish to ask God for a healthy baby? Shouldn't we just pray, 'Thy will be done'?" Good question. Should we pray specifically or just ask God to do the best for us and leave it up to Him?  Well lets look to the object of our prayers for the answer. God is a good, caring Father who loves His children.  And Scripture tells us that He wants to answer our requests.  For instance, when my daughter, Sierra, asks me for ice cream on a hot day, I am happy to give ice cream, unless she has already had too much sugar during the day. Of course, ice water would cool her off just as well, but she asked for ice cream. I want to please her because she is my beloved daughter. But, as a parent, I generally know what is best for my daughter.  Too much ice cream is bad.  Sometimes I must say no, or give water instead of ice cream.   As a father it makes me proud when my daughter willingly accepts my decision, even when it contradicts her desire.  And that is the same spirit that God our Father wants from us.  Jesus his son did not want to face the shame and suffering of the cross and expressed these feelings to God. Yet knowing that His death would bring forgiveness and joy to millions, He put aside His human desires, and said "Not my will, but thine, be done." So the will of God became the will of the son. Aren’t you glad Jesus thought of us and prayed “thy will be done?”

Today’s Music: Above All, Michael W. Smith

So, in our prayer lives, God is happy to answer our prayers when they match His will for our lives. "Thy will be done" is a wonderful expression of trust. So go ahead: your Father wants you to ask for the specific things you desire, according to His will. He loves you and wants you to enjoy His love. "If you know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"