A young pastor was praying to God to give him money to buy a car. He has been on the prayer for months, and it looked as though God was not paying attention. One morning, while in prayer, the Lord asked Him; “Son, what do you really want, money or a car?” That was the day he realised he had been praying amiss. A few weeks later, the car showed up.
Friend, let God determine the method. Perhaps the reason most prayers are not answered is because people want to determine the method via which God would answer them. This is not an expression of faith. When you say you are in faith, it means you have left both the outcome and the method to God. Trying to choose God’s method of blessing you is tantamount to walking in the flesh (Galatians 3:3).
God has more than a million ways to meet your needs or answer your prayers (Psalms 50:10). You cannot put God in a box. Some people have tied the hands of God by dictating how He should bless them. Like that young pastor, they are always asking for millions to buy a car or get a property without realising that God does not need money to bring their desires to pass (Haggai 2:6-9).
Sometimes, it is pride that makes us want to dictate for God. We want to have a say in the outcome. We want to tell the world that our power has got us the breakthrough (Deuteronomy 8:11-18). Like Naaman, we consider some methods belittling to our status. We would rather deep in river Abana than in the stinking Jordan (2 Kings 5:10-14). Sometimes, God will use the most humbling ways to bless you. He wants to change your heart and mindset.
Don’t let your education affect your faith. It takes a knowledgeable person to know what cannot work. To an illiterate, anything is possible. Don’t let your knowledge of economics rob you of financial miracles (2 Kings 7:1-20). Don’t let your knowledge of medical science make you miss the miraculous (Luke 1:18, 34, John 11:39-40). Don’t let your past experience truncate your future possibilities in God.
From today, get God out of the box that you have put Him in your mind and prayers (Psalms 78:40-41). Tell Him to have His way and do what He knows to do, how best He knows to do it. Tell Him you desire to travel out of the country and leave the how to Him. Tell Him you want a glorious wedding and marriage, and give Him permission to do it His own way. Tell Him you need a property without having to buy one (Deuteronomy 6:10-13). Let God determine the method. Amen!
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria