It would be so easy to become fretful after we listen to the onslaught of troubles around our world on a daily basis. I know that if I focus on those events that are devastating too much, I take my eyes off of Jesus who has the peace that I need. I have a limited view from where I stand. I am thankful that God is omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent, and he isn’t limited by time or space. He sees the end of the matter. He knows the plans that he has for me, he knows what it will take to encourage me to turn towards him and not get too focused on the world. It is devastating what is happening in our world, both locally and abroad, yet God is in control. If I can’t feel useful in any other capacity, there is one thing that I can do that will make a difference: pray.

Never feel that your prayers are insignificant or unable to touch God. He inhabits our praises, and our prayers are a memorial to him. He loves when we seek him, because he knows that he is the answer to our every need. Unless we pray, we may not release an answer from God. We have not, because we ask not. The bible tells us in Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” It takes a step of faith to get our prayers answered, and sometimes, God is waiting on us to take that step. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

I want to please the Lord. The only way to do that is to trust him and believe. This sounds so simple, but because of our limited perspective it may not always be the easiest thing to do. I have found that I always want to be in control of my life, and sometimes it’s hard to surrender my will to his will, when he leads me to let go of the reigns so that he can drive the chariot for awhile.

I have a choice to make: I can keep barreling towards the rocks up ahead, or I can surrender my will to his will, and give the Lord full reign in my life. You see, in those moments where I wanted to charge ahead on my own, the Lord had to block my way, and sometimes even say, no, to the prayers I had prayed.

What I didn’t see was the cliff that I was about to run off of, but God did see it. My obedience and submission to his authority, saved me from utter destruction. You may feel that the Lord is saying no to you more often than yes, but have no fear, because he is working all things out for your good. In this week’s Lattereign we look at Finding Treasure in the Valley.