** This thread discusses the content article: More Fruit Snacks Please! **

More Fruit Snacks Please!


You ever had one of those times (I know you have) when you’ve been praying SO HARD and SO LONG for something and then it just plain doesn’t happen? Like you have been CONSTANTLY praying for a family member to be spared from an illness, or for a close friend to remain in Christ, or for a new job, or that you won’t lose your current job, or that your parents won’t get divorced, or that the person you’re in love with will suddenly fall in love with you as well, or that you would be a little bit prettier or just a tad more athletic or… the list is endless. You’ve prayed harder than you ever have before and you think that God has just GOT to be sick of hearing that prayer request but at least he’ll make it happen right? But then what happens? EXACTLY what you’ve been praying NOT to happen.


It’s happened to all of us.


“God I’m MAD at you! You don’t LOVE me! How CAN you?! Are you just not listening?? Am I just not clear enough?? Am I just not worth your time?? I was TRUSTING YOU on this one!!!”


A God who doesn’t do exactly what we pray for isn’t worthy of our praise is He? He’s not worthy of our devotion or our faith or our love right?


I once heard a preacher tell this story. His 3 year old son loved fruit snacks, and I mean LOVED fruit snacks. He could go through an entire box in one sitting if his parents would let him. But they didn’t. And one time when his father told him “no more fruit snacks,” his son threw a temper tantrum and started wailing that he wanted his mommy. It then hit the father, his son didn’t really want his mommy, his son wanted what he thought his mommy could give him – a distinct difference.


How many times do we do that with God? No really, I mean it. Take a couple seconds to answer that question right now. “How many times do I just want God to do stuff for me rather than wanting God Himself?” Too often when worshiping, we think we’re crying out to God; that we’re praising Him as a Holy Father and Redeemer and Counselor and Joy Giver and Life Giver, but really all that we’re doing is crying out for what we think God can do for us. And then when he doesn’t do what we want Him to, we just know without a doubt that He doesn’t love us or want what’s best for us.


What’s wrong with this? We are basing our love for God and His love for us on His activity rather than His Identity.


We praise God for His holiness, mercy, justice (2 Chronicles 20:21, Psalm 99:3-4) for His grace (Ephesians 1:6) for His goodness (Psalm 135:3) for His kindness (Psalm 117) for His salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9), not because He does what we tell Him to.


God, teach us to love you and praise you for WHO YOU ARE and not for what we want you to do. We do give you ALL praise and ALL glory and ALL honor right now because you deserve so much more than every ounce of what we have to give. Father, help us to realize that even if you did not ever do one more thing for us, what you did in Jesus is still so much more than we deserve and you would still be more than worthy of our worship. And for that we are so thankful. We love you Father for who you are.

Thank you so much for that reminder! I definitely needed that. I have been wanting the blessings but not the one giving those blessings. Sometimes I think it means not getting something that we ask for to realize that we have just been wanting the fruits and change our way of thinking to want the Father. I am going to work on that this week! Thanks for the challenge!