I love the story of Cinderella. A young girl who longs for so many things learns she has a fairy godmother who will give her anything she wishes. More than once, I have wished for a fairy godmother with a magic wand! Sometimes I have found myself trying to put God into the role of fairy godmother. At times I have turned the Scriptures into a wish list and found myself waiting for God to wave his magic wand.

For example, Philippians 4:19 states, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

That seems to prove God will give us whatever we want. After all, it even says he is rich. But on closer inspection we’ll notice the emphasis is on our needs, not our wants.

My 12 and nine-year-old boys think they need the newest PSP or Nintendo DS game. They don’t react the same way when they need new pants because they have outgrown their present clothes. They do not see it from a parent’s perspective. Instead, they childishly want things they don’t need while being in need of things they don’t want. That may be how God looks at us.

Matthew 7:11 says, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Parents want to give good gifts to their children. If our sons or daughters want candy or caffeine, we have to monitor it. If they’re asking for these things at bedtime, we’ll probably deny their request. If they ask for an apple or a banana, we would likely give it to them right away.

We may make the assumption that the gift we are asking God for is good, but he has our best interests at heart. What we ask for may not be bad, but it may not be best.

How do we pray with the right heart and motives? The best way to pray is to use the examples God gives us in his Word.

Before Jesus went to the cross he prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done” (Matthew 26:42).

He prayed this prayer three times. Each time the answer was no. Jesus understands the frustration we feel when it seems our prayers are answered negatively. In his experience and in ours, Jesus knows that God sees the big picture.

The more I pray about something I’m desperate about, the more I add, “Your will be done.” I do not know about the future. God does. It only makes sense that I pray that way. Otherwise I am praying out of ignorance.

A fairy godmother gives you your wants and desires. God gives you what is best for you.

Armed with confidence that God is not our fairy godmother, but our heavenly Father, we can learn to trust him for every need and want. He will give us what we need according to his will rather than what we want. With Cinderella’s godmother, everything changed back at midnight. God doesn’t have a time clock. Once he gives, we don’t have to fear that he will suddenly take his gifts away. |L

OTHER COLUMNS:
November 15, 2009 - Bringing Christ to French Guiana
November 1, 2009 - Walking the edge
October 18, 2009 - Watch what you say
October 4, 2009 - Proposing a new proverb
September 20, 2009 - Fear and trembling
September 6, 2009 - Elwyn
August 23, 2009 - Where did the Bible go?
August 9, 2009 - The public school: a local mission field
July 26, 2009 - Astonishing the judges
July 12, 2009 - Letting the past go
June 28, 2009 - Line up
June 14, 2009 - The path to spiritual growth
May 31, 2009 - A tribute to one of my heroes
May 17, 2009 - Silent soldier
April 19, 2009 - Operation Resensitization
April 5, 2009 - The temptations of ministers
March 8, 2009 - Conversation over shoes
February 22, 2009 - By their plurals you shall know them
February 8, 2009 - What is missing from your retirement plans?
January 25, 2009 - Turn the page
December 28, 2008 - Abba, Father
December 14, 2008 - Elementary truths
November 30, 2008 - The illusion
October 19, 2008 - Acting like a toddler
October 5, 2008 - Don’t miss this
September 21, 2008 - Foolish schemes
September 7, 2008 - God’s hand is everywhere
August 24, 2008 - The dance
August 10, 2008 - Strange land
July 27, 2008 - God’s amazing grace
July 13, 2008 - A best seller
June 29, 2008 - My grandfather’s clock and worship
June 1, 2008 - Reclaiming the name
April 6, 2008 - Success: what is it and who can measure up?
March 9, 2008 - Need to know
February 10, 2008 - The top three myths of singleness
January 13, 2008 - By invitation only
December 5, 2007 - Yes, Abbie, there is a Jesus
November 18, 2007 - 10 Ways to be a good Christmas customer
October 21, 2007 - The dividing line
September 23, 2007 - What do you fear?
September 9, 2007 - A life well lived
August 26, 2007 - To murmur, or not to murmur
July 29, 2007 - The cross and the Christian
July 15, 2007 - Turning the other cheek: still a valuable biblical principle
July 1, 2007 - Why the tie?
June 3, 2007 - The death of a son
May 6, 2007 - A prayer for the dying
April 8, 2007 - The omnipresent God
March 11, 2007 - Do the Amish have superheroes?
February 11, 2007 - What’s your black history?
January 14, 2007 - The split branch
December 31, 2006 - The house of regret
December 10, 2006 - The redemption of the innkeeper
November 26, 2006 - Too many choices
November 12, 2006 - Break the bashing habit: Learning to love the unsaved like Christ does: November 12, 2006
October 15, 2006 - Be ‘salt and light’ this Christmas!: October 15, 2006
September 17, 2006 - Who is a legalist?: September 17, 2006 Issue 38
July 23, 2006 - God speaks through our brokenness: July 23, 2006 Issue 38
June 25, 2006 - 'What I am looking for in my church leaders'