Gi'me, Gi'me, Gi'me

I may not know how to spell it, but I sure know how to pray it! That is, "God, gi'me, gi'me, gi'me!"

It struck me just recently how so many of my prayers are about me. . .and about my asking God to please gi'me (give me) this, please gi'me that, etc., etc., etc.

It reminded me of something John Powell wrote in one of his books: "Some people treat God like a Giant Bayer's Aspirin [pill]: 'Take God three times a day and you won't feel any pain.'"

Somebody else suggested that some of us treat God as if He were a giant vending machine. Put your money [prayer] in the slot, push the button for the product whatever it is you want] and hey, presto, out it pops! No more commitment needed -- or given!

Others treat God as if He were a year-long Father-Christmas-God so that we can keep asking for and receiving personal gifts. . .all the things we want. . .all year long. . .all for free.

Others set God up as if he were a co-dependent God. That is, to do everything for us that we need to take care of ourselves but don't want to. The fact is that if God does anything for us that we should and need to do for ourselves, He would be keeping us over-dependent and immature. And we wouldn't be learning personal responsibility.

God will do anything for us that we can't do for ourselves. In fact He'll bend the heavens to touch the earth to do this for us -- which He did do when He sent Jesus, his Son, to die in our place to pay the penalty for our sins. But God won't do for us what we can and need to do for ourselves. He has promised to give us wisdom, guidance, and direction -- but not to be our over-indulgent-vending-machine-sugar-daddy-god!

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, today I am coming to you to listen. What can I do for you today? How can I be a part of your plans and what you are doing in the world today? - - - - - - - - - - - Gratefully in Jesus' name."

Why not fill in the blank with what you think/feel God would have you to be and do today.