PRAYING FOR WILLINGNESS TO CHOOSE GOD'S WAY RATHER THAN MY OWN TRADITION

InJesus’ day the religious leaders had all sorts of washing ceremonies they went through before they ate and performed other religious duties.  While there’s nothing wrong with the washing, Jesus challenged the fact that they decided what they needed to do to be clean before God rather than hearing and following what God had said. 

These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.  Mark 7:6-7

It’s important to ask ourselves in what ways we put our own ways of doing things ahead of seeking God for His plan in each of our days and circumstances.  It’s not about how much effort we put into what we are doing that counts.  It is about getting it right by accepting and following God’s way.  Look at these words.

I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law.   Romans 10:2-3

Loving God, We get so used to doing something in a particular way that we just don’t bother to check in with You about what Your plan for this day in this time is.  The longer that goes on the more set in our ways we get and the more we lock other people out.  Forgive us Lord.  Help us to recognize the diversity of Your plans and ideas that match what You and You alone know is going on in particular situations and people. 

What has been the right thing to do at one point in time may not be what You are directing us for today with what we are facing in our families, our church, or our community.  While we always want all of our actions to be in line with Your will as it is revealed in the Bible, we do pray that You will help us to be conscious and cleansed of our own spin on things.

The prophet Isaiah said: 

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.  Isaiah 55:6-7

And so God, along with Isaiah the prophet, we commit ourselves to taking the time and effort to actually seek You out today and to call on You.  We pray for humility to forsake our own ways and thoughts and to be filled with a willingness and grace to turn to You.  Amen