"Don't Pray that Prayer Again", says the Lord.

"Don't Pray that Prayer Again," says the Lord

Did you ever get the signal from the Lord not to pray that prayer again? "That's enough. Don't make that request again. Accept My position on the matter."

One day Moses was exalting the Lord in prayer: "Thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth that can do according to thy works and according to thy might?"  Then after the appropriate, respectful and God honoring intro, Moses made his request: "I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain and Lebanon."  (Deuteronomy 3)

Still fresh in Moses' memory was that burning bush experience when God painted a picture in his mind he would never forget.  "Moses, I have chosen you to lead My people out of the bitter bondage of Egypt. You are going to lead them out of this place and take them into a good land with lots of space and flowing with milk and honey."

You can almost see Moses' eyes dancing with excitement as he told his people from time to time of that 'good land' to which they were going.  But then something happened.  In their travels they ran out of water. The travelling crowd became agitated and verbally attacked Moses. Moses prayed. The Lord answered his prayer: "Just speak to that rock and the water will start flowing." Moses, quite frustrated with the people, lifted his staff high into the air and then slammed it against the rock twice. Yes, the water gushed out in significant quantities; but something else had happened. Moses had sinned. He disobeyed God in front of everyone.  God told him: "Moses there are consequences for your sin. You will no longer be the one who will bring the people into that beautiful land."

We don't know how many times Moses prayed: "Please, please Lord, just let me place my feet on the soil of that land - just once, before I die."  It was his dream and deep seated desire. But we read in Deuteronomy 3:26:

"...the Lord said unto me,

'Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.'"

In other words, "Moses, I don't want you to make that request again. The matter is closed with Me. You can look at the land with your eyes from a distance but you shall not go over this Jordan."

Moses, the man of God bowed to the Lord's will on this matter and never sulked. Bitterness didn't gnaw away at his heart. He kept busy for the Lord, honoring Him and obeying Him until the time of his death.

When God says, 'No!' to me how do I behave? Do I go on a spiritual strike? Or do I protest by conducting my own version of a union's work slowdown? Do I try to punish God by doing the bare minimum?

The Apostle Paul had something in his life he did not enjoy or like. It was a huge thing for him. Three times he pleaded with God to take it away. But God said, 'No!'  With that firm 'no', God whispered into Paul's soul: "My grace is sufficient for thee." 2Corinthians 12:9. Paul never asked again.

Has God said 'No!' to you?

Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.

Warmly in Christ

Peter Ramsay

peter@heaven4sure.com