Sometimes when we pour out our desires to God, He appears to be indifferent. When the apostle Paul earnestly petitioned God for the removal of his thorn in the flesh, the request was not granted. However, in not giving this desire of Paul’s heart, God gave him his deeper desire. Certainly Paul’s greatest desire was to know God’s grace and power in order to be the most useful servant he could possibly be. God withheld the request in order to give Paul his deepest desire and thus glorify Himself (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
— Bill Thrasher, Theologieprofessor und Autor
Related Bible passage: 2CO.12.7-10
Topics: Prayer & Silence, Guidance & God's Will, Grace & Redemption
Occasions: For Reflection
Bill Thrasher
Bill Thrasher ist ein US-amerikanischer evangelikaler Theologe und Autor, der seit 1980 am Moody Theological Seminary in Chicago lehrt. Bekanntheit erlangte er vor allem durch seine Veröffentlichungen zu den Themen Gebet, Seelsorge und geistliche Reifung. Bibellesern vermitteln seine Schriften praxisnahe theologische Impulse, um das Gebet als vertrauensvolle Beziehung zu Gott im Alltag zu vertiefen.
All quotes by Bill Thrasher (23)
When we pray, the circumstances often remain the same, but we become different.
Oswald Chambers
Prayer does not change God, but the one who prays.
Søren Kierkegaard
Courage is fear that has said its prayers.
Corrie ten Boom
To pray is to draw breath from God.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Prayer does not equip us for greater works – prayer is the greater work.
Oswald Chambers
God has his ear at your heart.
Augustine of Hippo
Prayers are tools not for doing or getting, but for being and becoming.
Eugene Peterson