Recently, our eight-year-old granddaughter came up with a most intriguing Christmas wish list that boggled my mind:
Go Go Flamingo (an expensive toy)
Robux gift card (Max: $50)
Cloud Puddy (she means ‘putty’!)
Ipad with Apple pen
Pet hamster
Magic Mixies (another expensive toy)
Bunch of Reese’s chocolates from Nanna and Granddad!
New TV in my room
Five-dollar allowance monthly (optional)
Drivers’ licence, car and keys
Makeup desk with chair and wall mirror
Snuggles Dream Puppy (yet another expensive toy)
Hmm. Nothing like a list that ranges from special playdough and a few chocolates to a drivers’ licence and car—oh and the car keys would help too! Although Maxine has been quite reasonable, I suppose, with her request for a five-dollar allowance each month—especially since she has stated it is optional! I strongly suspect, however, that Maxine may be heading for disappointment as far as this list is concerned, except perhaps for one or two of the cheaper items included. And I know her parents would not welcome a hamster into the household!
I laughed at my granddaughter’s wonderful list when I first saw it. But as I have thought about it since, I have realised I have often made up equally weird lists over the years when it comes to asking God for things. In my late teens, I used to pray I could become a famous opera singer one day! Instead of heading to the Conservatorium, however, I ended up studying languages at university. Now, I think God honestly preserved me from making a big mistake back then.
Much later, I remember praying our children would turn out to be geniuses and always top their classes at school. In the end, God had to show me my prayers were really driven by my own desire to achieve academically, rather than our children’s own desires and interests. I was pushing my agenda onto them—and I was hoping God would step into line and make it all happen.
Of course, we can—and should—bring all sorts of requests to God, as the Apostle Paul urges us to:
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Ephesians 6:18
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
Yet, sometimes, like a petulant child, I can demand things from God, then become upset and disappointed when I don’t receive them. How much better would it be if I took time to try to listen and hear God’s heart on these matters, even as I pray? And how much better it would be too if I accepted it when God, who is all-loving, all-knowing and all-wise, says no or perhaps ‘wait a while’?
I hope Maxine won’t be too disappointed when she doesn’t receive that car for Christmas—I suspect she was only kidding with that request anyway! I am sure she will be happy, whatever gifts she receives. And I am sure she will still love her parents and will know they love her so much too. As for me and those prayer requests of mine—and yours, I hope we can all continue to love and trust God, whatever the outcome, because God will never give up on loving us.
Jo-Anne Berthelsen's Blog 