Friday, April 11, 2008

Is it smart to dictate what you want?

C. S. Lewis used to write: "Be careful what you think you want." This comes from his famous book on miracles. His point is that every time in history there are miracles evidenced, there is also present a lot of misery & trouble. So if you ask for a miracle, you may also be laying yourself open for a context of misery in which God will grant the miracle. My question is then: Is it smart to dictate what you want? Israel in the wilderness begged for meat...oh, they really wanted that. But when God gave it to them, they didn't want it anymore. They got sick. The Psalmist said in 106: 13-15 "But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel. But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in the desert; He gave them what they asked, BUT SENT A WASTING DISEASE AMONG THEM." When you forget what God has done for you and neglect to consult him on what HE wants for your life, you may end up dictating a "wanton craving" and put God to the test. I am not smart enough to dictate to God what He should give me. Maybe we should do more "fill in the blank" praying. Lord, you fill in my blank and I know that will be best for me. Think it through!