A Selfish Prayer
8:19 am in Devotional by Strong In Christ
Submit your devotional, testimony or prayer request.
Just click the email link below:
admin@stronginchrist.com
Back in 2001, my 15 year-old cousin was diagnosed with a cancer so rare, he was only the sixth child in the world to have it. My life leading up to that point was not one of enlightenment; it’s not that I wasn’t a Christian, I just didn’t spend most time praying. But when I received the word about my cousin, I began to trust in God and ask him to heal Chris.
Over the next few months, he got better, then worse, then better again, and worse once more. I kept praying, but after a ten-month battle that included losing a lung, going through countless doses of Chemo and radiation, and being confined to a wheelchair, he passed away nine days short of turning 16.
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” -Mat.6:10
Then I realized that I had been praying for myself all that time. Subconsciously, I was praying that I wouldn’t lose another person in my life, having lost a dear friend in ‘98, both of my grandmothers in two consecutive weeks, and never having met either of my grandfathers. I should’ve been praying for God to heal my cousin, so long as it was His will. Clearly it wasn’t. Had I known that at the time, I wouldn’t have set myself up for such a disappointment.”
WRITTEN BY: JOE S. -FL.
Thank you Joe for sharing such a personal experience. Your devotional raises a critical question that all Christians should deeply contemplate, namely, do I know the will of God?
“This God—his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.”
-Psalms 18:30
Meditation: How can I be certain to know the will of God and therefore pray within His will? Am I ready to truly accept His will, even if it is painful, don’t understand it or the outcome?
Peace & Blessings.
What you need to realize is that they are not in pain anymore although your not being totally selfish wanting them around my moms mom was taken for her at a young age and the preacher said”don’t be so selfish I didn’t understand that here she just lost her mother and the precher says that?
Hi,
I am sorry for your loss. I lost my brother last year to Cancer and yes, there is a certain amount of ’selfish’ prayer involved but there has to be – it’s a way of dealing with the pain and there’s only so much pain a person can take, especially over a long period of time.
But I wouldn’t feel bad about it – it is normal and God doesn’t mind! He loves us regardless of our feelings and actions and He’s carries us through our bad times.When we are weak, He takes over and gives us the strength to endure.
Also what was happening when you submitted your testimony was you allowed the Spirit to come in and deal with the pain that you are feeling inside and that’s when the healing begins.
God bless you and love the site!