Pray While You’re Prey Devotion, Part IVنموونە

Father Knows Best

Quote from Pray While You’re Prey:

“…once we stop fighting our singleness, we can grow much closer to God.”

One thing I have learned about children is that it is very difficult to stop them when they are determined to do something, even if the something that they are determined to do is dangerous. Some of us might resort to reverse psychology to try to get the children in our lives to do what we actually want them to do. Let’s face it, children, especially those of the teenage variety, would rather do anything other than what you want them to do.

I am actually not sure who is harder to stop from harming themselves, teenagers or toddlers. Have you ever tried to hold a three-year-old down that was determined to get away? They squiggle and squirm and scream. They know how to make their little bodies into dead weight, which makes them super difficult to hold on to, and the minute you let them go, they will do whatever it is that you told them not to do.

As much as children can be difficult to corral, we older human beings are not exactly a walk in the park. I am so glad that I am not God. He clearly and plainly tells us what to do and what not to do, and like rambunctious toddlers or rebellious teenagers, we choose to do life our way. It is as if we are saying, “Lord, I don’t think You know what You’re talking about. I have a better plan.”

Rather than accepting where God has us in our lives and praising Him for all that He has given us, we start squirming and squiggling and screaming, trying to get out of His grip. What we fail to realize is that the tight grip He has on us is there to protect us.

I cannot speak for anyone else, but this I know, God can and will do EVERYTHING He says He will do. God’s way is the best way. If I want His protection, He will be my shield. But, I, like many others, seem to forget this when I am having a fit of rebelliousness or just plain having a fit. I try to fight everything that God is doing in my life instead of just pressing in to Him and resting in Him knowing that He has everything under control.

How many things have you tried to do on your own that came out perfectly? I can think of none. We have a loving Father who promises life more abundantly if we will just live His way. He is so loving that He still takes us back after we try to live without Him. The truth of the matter is that we either trust Him or we don’t. I pray that each day we choose to trust in His promises because the Father knows best.

Prayer

Thank You, God, for protecting me, even when it means protecting me from me.

Please forgive me for not trusting that you know best.

Lord, please help me to accept where you have me, and when I get squirmy, squeeze me tight and don’t let go.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen