Today's Daily Lesson comes from Luke chapter 22 verses 41 through 43:
41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
There is absolute freedom of petition in the presence of God.
Most of us are afraid to pray for what we wish. We are afraid because we are anxious about bringing our own desires before God. We are anxious about ourselves and what it is that we desire and, if it were known, how it would be received.
The saints, on the other hand, seem to pray freely. They speak honestly and pray for what they desire. The act of exposing themselves and their desires does not create anxiety in them. And even the prospect of praying for something that is not in the will of God does not trouble them. They are free and at ease in their prayers and petition and they try to teach others that it is okay to be the same. This is why St. Paul wrote the church at Philippi saying, "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God," (Philippians 4:6).
We are free to bring our requests before God. We are free to pray our heart's desire. We are free even to pray for things to happen which are not in the will of God - because even while our prayers may not always be in accordance with God's will, prayer itself always is.
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