What shall we ask God to do ?

This week I received a devotion by email from J.R. Miller. I will share it with you.

"We do not know what we should pray for as we ought" Romans 8:26

A pastor sat with a father and mother by the bed of a child who was hovering between life and death. He was about to pray for the little sufferer, and turning to the parents he asked, "What shall we ask God to do?" After some moments the father answered, with deep emotion: "I would not dare to choose. Leave it to God."

Would it not be better always to leave the decision to God, letting Him choose what is best for Him to do for us, or to give to us? We are not in the world to always have ease and pleasure, to always succeed, to do great things--we are here to grow into strength and beauty of life and character, to accomplish the will of God, and to have that will wrought out in our own life. Often times the present must be sacrificed for the future, the earthly given up to gain the Heavenly, and pain endured for the sake of spiritual refining and enriching.
Christ does not seek to take away the burden but rather, He would make us strong and brave to bear it.

If we are willing to let God choose for us, and accept what He gives we shall never fail to receive the best. Perhaps not what the world would call the best, but always God's best. We do not know what we should pray for as we ought, and we had better leave it to God.

We should be content to leave the guidance and choices of our lives in His hands. Think how wise He is knowing all things, knowing how to choose the best for us. Who does not know that this is better, safer and wiser than if we were to choose the way for ourselves?

The truest prayer is often times that in which we lay into the bosom of God and rest there in silence. We do not know what to ask, and we dare not say even a word, lest it might be the wrong word, hence we simply wait before God in quietness and confidence. We know that what is best, our Fathers will, and we trust Him to do what He will.

We are sure that God could relieve us of the things which are so hard for us to bear, if He desired to. This is God's world, and nothing can get out of His hands or control. All we have to do is to lay our need before the throne of mercy, and to let God answer us as He will.
 J.R. Miller

On a personal note that question is often in my heart. “What do I ask the Lord to do?" On Monday afternoon we visited my Oncologist in Vancouver. In a somewhat subdued voice he gave me the latest update on the scans that were made the week before. The news and scan analysis did not come as complete surprise but more like a confirmation of the way I have been feeling lately.
The news was that the Chemo Therapy treatments will be stopped immediately because they are not doing any good at all. The cancer continues to progress and it appears to advance even faster in the last five weeks.

Several spots on the spine are progressing, there is also a new tumor on the top of the spine/neck area. This tumor is most likely contributing to the intense pain that I am experiencing at times, traveling into my shoulder and arm. Also the top of the femur bone showed an increase in size, right in the area where it joins the pelvis, making walking difficult.

Other areas also showed an increase in cancer, like some of the ribs among others. A more detailed report is forthcoming from the CT Scan. Because of the seriousness of the cancer in the spine, a rush appointment was made with the Radiation Oncologist on Tuesday and on Wednesday I received the first of five radiation treatments for five consecutive days.

What should I ask God to do? I have considered this question many times lately. In the last couple of days I have come to the conclusion that I need to give it all over into His hands, not just some parts of it, but completely surrender to God. No one on this earth is able to stop this cancer from growing, something I already knew right from the day I was diagnosed with cancer. I truly believe that God can still do a miracle but the reality is that we all must leave this earth one day and meet our Maker. For me that appears to be sooner than I had prayed for. However, I do have peace with the ways that God is dealing with me. There are times I struggle to leave it all into God hands, I also know that God will do what is best for me and to glorify Him. This is not about me, it’s about the glory of God.

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

I covet your prayers for strength and endurance to run the race as written in Hebrews 12 1-2. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Thank you for the many ways in which you have shown your love and compassion.
John

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven,
Feed me till I want no more.

Will­iam Will­iams