October 16, 2013

February 22

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

    

That prayer which does not succeed in moderating our wish, in changing the passionate desire into still submission, the anxious, tumultuous expectation into silent surrender, is no true prayer, and proves that we have not the spirit of true prayer. That life is most holy in which there is least of petition and desire, and most of waiting upon God; that in which petition most often passes into thanksgiving. Pray till prayer makes you forget your own wish, and leave it or merge it in God's will. The Divine wisdom has given us prayer, not as a means whereby to obtain the good things of earth, but as a means whereby we learn to do without them; not as a means whereby we escape evil, but as a means whereby we become strong to meet it. 
F.W. Robertson (1815-1852), English divine*

"Pray till prayer makes you forget your own wish, and leave it or merge it with God's will."  That is a very thought-provoking and seldom taught goal of prayer.  

I remember from my days at Second Baptist learning the prayer acronym, A.C.T.S.
A = Adoration
C = Confession
T = Thanksgiving
S = Supplication

Robertson might argue the "S" could stand for "Subjugation".  We pray until our will, our wants, our wishes are either extinguished or align with God's will, wants and wishes.

*Daily Strength for Daily Needs- February 22
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/8534/pg8534.html