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Don’t try to bargain with God

First read Daniel 9:16-18, Acts 14:1-3

We could do as Daniel did: come to God and ask Him to forgive our transgressions and help us clear aside the rubble in our lives. This doesn't have to be about a destroyed city, as it was for Daniel. It can also be the emotional impact of quarrels or other wounds. When we pray, we can trust that God already knows how He will turn the situation that is unsolvable for us to a good end. But our trust is often put to the test because we hope for a quick solution and God's timetable is different. So we start negotiating, thinking we can convince God to reconsider His timing. 

We forget that God is our provider who is greater than our external circumstances. Or we believe that He only cares about the big picture and that we would have to deal with the pettiness of our everyday concerns ourselves. Some people seem to interpret God's role as provider in such a way that God only satisfies our basic needs and makes sure that we get two liters of water and a piece of bread every day. But God is so much more generous! He makes sure that we have opportunities in our jobs so that we can prove ourselves and maybe even get a promotion. The Holy Spirit shows us ways to settle disputes, no matter how gridlocked the fronts are. God is not a dealmaker to whom we have to pitch our ideas. He knows what's best for us and when the right time is. His timing is always perfect, even when we get nervous because the end of a deadline is looming ominously close.

Especially when we encounter opposition, we would like God to intervene and remove obstacles for us. In doing so, we tend to forget that we learn and become stronger through obstacles and difficulties. This is what the apostles experienced, for example, when they had to deal with the fact that the people to whom they preached were incited against them. Certainly not an easy situation, but they trusted in God's plan instead of trying to strike a supposedly better deal with God. 

Prayer, Get Free and Next Step: Where are you negotiating with God instead of listening to His plans? Ask the Holy Spirit today to show you where you can learn to trust Him even more.