A couple of weeks ago I came across an announcement in a tech website about a special sale of a gadget that was in my “wish list.” I quickly checked the website of the store that was supposed to have the sale and, sure enough, the store was advertising almost $200 off the regular price. That got me excited. The sale price was reasonable.
But seeking to avoid impulsive buying, I took the time to consult with Grace and to review our financial status to find out if we had some extra resource available. That night I was able to find that extra cash. The next day I went back to the store’s website to process the purchase. The special price was still posted. But when I got to the final step, I encountered a word that I did not like: “unavailable.” Not to be deterred, I engaged in an online chat with a sales representative. Well, the item sold out quickly and was no longer available in any of the branches of the store nationwide. Two days later, the gadget was still listed but now at its regular price.
Was I disappointed? No doubt. Yet the Lord gave me the grace not to sweat it. The matter was not of grave importance. The truth is, I wouldn’t even have attempted to buy the gadget if I had not seen the notice of the special sale. Do I regret taking the time to consult with Grace and to make sure I had enough resources to buy the item? Not at all. It’s a “standard procedure” we had adopted as part of our commitment to be faithful stewards of the resources God had entrusted to us.
We all have our own personal “wish list.” It probably includes material things, but I’m sure the list also touches on other life concerns such as relationships, health, and spiritual matters. We have our desires. And a believer would normally bring these desires before God as requests in prayer. But how should we approach God with our requests?
A devotional thought shared during a recent prayer meeting helped to provide a biblical perspective: When bringing our desires to God in prayer, make sure to make him our primary focus—not the desired outcome of our request. It’s a matter of trusting God and his wisdom to respond to our request in his own way and in his own time. I will bring my request to God, turn over the matter to him, trust him to act as he sees fit, and accept whatever answer he gives me. He is the Lord of my wish list. And in this I will delight and rest secure.
“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” (Psalm 27.13–14 NIV).
