- We need to pray because God always answers our prayers. He answers our prayers not according to what we have wanted, but according to what is best for us. He always gives us something which is “much more” than what we have requested.
- God, our wisest Father, will never give us anything less than what we have asked for because He loves us. If we were to ask for a fish, He will not give us a snake. If we were to ask for an egg, He will not give us a scorpion. But if He were to always simply give us what we ask for, then won’t He be just “spoiling” us? How will we ever grow to be more skillful and virtuous?
- God may not give us something outwardly, but He will always work something into us inwardly. He answers our prayers with patience, wisdom, peace, joy, self-control, and industriousness so that we become more capable. We are made able to fish, to take care of our needs and others’. Isn’t that much better?
- We are created in God’s image so that we may communicate with Him. We can be God’s companion. This is wonderful. Just read the Bible. It shows many people that have come close to God in an intimate way. Enoch walked with God. Noah found favor in God’s eyes. Abraham talked with God, even had supper with Him. And then Isaac, Jacob, Moses, …
- When we say that we are to glorify God, one may get the wrong idea that God is utilizing us as a tool or instrument. No. When we say that we are to glorify God, it means that we are to glorify Him as sons. We are to reflect Him as His companions or friends.
- When we read the stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob… men whom God used for His “projects”, we found that they had the same weaknesses as we are. It seems that God chooses imperfect men — but men who persist despite their imperfections. After some time, these men may have failed in their “project”, but they would have come to know God in an intimate way.
- It is okay to fail; after all we are not perfect. But it is not okay to quit fellowshipping with Him. You know how we are. Sometimes we misunderstand our “project” and so we take a totally wrong way. However, if we stay in close fellowship with God, sooner or later He will set us right. But if we were to try our way without Him, we will never get there. Hence, it is by enjoying fellowship with Him that we can fulfill our purpose of glorifying Him.
