Normally, my son is not allowed to watch cartoons until the weekend, no matter how much he begs. So recently he came to me and said, “Daddy, I want to watch ball. I want to watch message.” He knew those are the things I watch on TV. A few minutes later, as we were listening to the message, he turned to me and said, “Daddy, cartoon.” I knew he was playing games with me.
Friend, stop playing games with God. One of the marks of a true father is the ability to be firm and friendly (Hebrews 12:5-11). It is the ability to love and discipline. If who you call you father is someone who cannot look you in the face and say no, you don’t have a father yet or you are not posturing right as a son (1 Corinthians 4:15).
Stop using your emotions to change God’s decision (James 4:1-8). Stop crying and begging God for what you know is not His will for you. Prayer is not a tool to change God’s mind. It is a tool to change and align us to God’s will (Matthew 26:39). Stop playing games with God in the place of prayer.
Train yourself to relate with the friendliness of God as well as His firmness (Hebrews 12:6, 29). Appreciate His love but also treasure His discipline. Be excited when He says yes to your request but also welcome His no. Trust God’s love as well as His wisdom. He loves you and knows what is best for you (Jeremiah 29:11).
You cannot deceive God, the devil, and yourself. But why do people think they can deceive God (James 1:22)? The omniscient God who knows you more than you know yourself. People attempt to deceive God by paying lip service to His word. They give a nod to what He says without planning to obey (Luke 6:46).
God is a loving Father. He’s also a serious God. He would take you seriou when you take Him serious (1 Samuel 2:30). Learn to approach God as a Father but respond to Him as Lord. As your Father, He gives. As your Lord, He demands. It is your response to His demands that determines what you become (Acts 9:6).