Think fast…
When was the last time you asked the Lord to do something for you and He graciously did it?
Think faster…
Why did He do that?
Sorry for being presumptuous, but let me guess at some typical think-fast answers…
- Because He loves me.
- Because I asked.
- Because He said He would.
- Because He wanted to (it was “His will”)
I’m sure there are more, and I’m quite sure that whatever you came up with has at least some measure of truth in it. But I’m not sure we’ve landed on the ultimate prize.
Slow down your thinking a little and read this carefully (the emphasis is mine):
He has rescued us from a terrible death, and he will rescue us in the future. We are confident that he will continue to rescue us, since you are also joining to help us when you pray for us. Then many people will thank God for the favor he will show us because many people prayed for us (2 Corinthians 1:10-11, GW).
Okay, to be clear, this is a man whose life hung in the balance pretty much every day. He had suffered greatly and been convinced on more than one occasion that he was a goner. So when people would pray for Paul, and God would spare him yet again, it would be easy for him to suggest a lot of reasons why he was still in one piece (literally).
- The Lord has more work for me to do.
- The Lord wants to show this world that He is greater than any opposing force.
- The Lord wants to advance the gospel.
All those, I’m sure, are legit. But that’s not what Paul points out. He predicts that even in his great despair, because the Corinthians are praying, along with so many other people, God will hear the prayer and give many people the opportunity to say “thank you.”
Anything else?
Nope.
The opportunity to say “thank you” is the ultimate purpose.
Gratitude is the goal.
Gratitude is the heart’s way of celebrating the goodness of God for what He has done in us and for us. Of course, as Jesus learned with the 10 lepers, the opportunity to say thank you does not guarantee that it will be said.
What if the primary reason the Lord ever answered any prayer was to generate gratitude?
What if He knew how vitally important gratitude was to us – not just in forging our faith in Him, but in improving our overall disposition and direction?
What if being grateful was like oxygen to your soul?
What if the change in disposition was more important than the change in circumstances?
Think fast…
When was the last time you asked the Lord to do something for you and He graciously did it?
Think faster…
Why did He do that?
Well?
Did you?