Not Having Your Heart in a Neutral Position When Approaching God
In our spiritual journey, a common stumbling block is the failure to approach God from a neutral standpoint. This issue, often underestimated, can significantly hinder our ability to hear the still voice of God, restricting us to the confines of our desires rather than aligning ourselves with His greater purpose for our lives. It is essential to recognize that God’s plans for us surpass our personal aspirations, as His intentions are rooted in goodness and a desire to prosper rather than harm.
The crux of the matter lies in being filled with the knowledge of God’s will, a concept beautifully articulated in Colossians 1:9, which urges us to seek wisdom and spiritual understanding. This implies an ongoing quest for a deep comprehension of God’s purpose for our lives. The Holy Spirit, as the divine guide, knows what is truly best for us. Therefore, approaching God from a neutral standpoint becomes paramount, enabling us to grasp His will in every aspect of our lives.
Colossians 1:9
For this reason, we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
The Holy Spirit, as our divine guide, understands what is best for us. Hence, approaching God from a neutral standpoint becomes imperative to grasp His will for our lives in a given moment. This requires allowing God to take the lead in every step of our journey. Stubbornness and covetousness must not become stumbling blocks, hindering us from accessing the fullness of God through Christ.
The book of James sheds light on a common reason why prayers may go unanswered. James 4:3 articulates that prayers may falter when driven by self-serving motives, emphasizing the importance of aligning our requests with the divine will. This resonates with the timeless truth that God’s plans are to prosper us and not to harm us.
James 4:3
You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
To overcome this hurdle, cultivating a receptive heart willing to learn and understand the will of God becomes paramount. Instead of imposing our desires, we should seek to harmonize our will with His divine purpose. Such an approach, rooted in humility and openness, builds confidence that when we approach God in prayer, He not only hears us but responds according to His perfect will.
The apostle John encapsulates this idea succinctly in 1 John 5:14, stating,
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
The key lies in aligning our requests with God’s will, recognizing that His plans surpass our limited understanding and that the path He unfolds is one of prosperity and fulfillment.
In conclusion, approaching God with a neutral and receptive heart is the gateway to unlocking the profound wisdom and spiritual understanding needed to navigate life in alignment with His divine will. Let us shed the limitations of our own desires, allowing God to guide us into a purposeful and prosperous journey through Christ.
