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August 3, 2011 — by Julie Ackerman Link
Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
Read: Joshua 1:1-9
As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. —Joshua 1:5
Bible in a year:
Psalms 63-65; Romans 6
Psalms 63-65; Romans 6
Sometimes I am ashamed of my prayers. Too often I hear
myself using familiar phrases that are more like mindless filler than
thoughtful, intimate interaction. One phrase that annoys me, and that I
think might offend God, is “Lord, be with me.” In Scripture, God has
already promised not to leave me.
God made this promise to Joshua just before he led the Israelites into the Promised Land (Josh. 1:5).
The author of Hebrews later claimed it for all believers: “I will never
leave you nor forsake you” (13:5). In both cases, the context indicates
that God’s presence has to do with giving us the power to carry out His
will, not our own will, which is generally what I have in mind in my
prayers.
Perhaps a better prayer wold be something like this: “Lord, thank You
for Your indwelling Spirit who is willing and able to direct me in the
ways You want me to go. May I not take You where You don’t want to go.
May I not enlist You to do my will, but humbly submit to doing Yours.”
When we are doing God’s will, He will be with us even without our asking. If we’re not doing His will, we need to ask for His forgiveness, change our course, and follow Him.
God Himself is with thee—
Thy Savior, Keeper, Friend;
And He will not forsake thee,
Nor leave thee to life’s end. —J. D. Smith
Thy Savior, Keeper, Friend;
And He will not forsake thee,
Nor leave thee to life’s end. —J. D. Smith
May our prayers not be mindless, but instead mindful of God’s will.
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