Prayer Guided by Service

Have you ever thought of what guides your prayers? Paul wrote that we should pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:16), which welcomes us to pray for elements that affect our circumstances as well as others'. From time to time, our rejoicing can find its motivation solely in the circumstances, so much so that we forget or minimize giving thanks for all circumstances (1 Thess. 5:18). One characteristic we see from the prophet Jeremiah is his servitude guiding his prayers.

Jeremiah 42:1-6
 
The circumstances that surrounded Israel were very dire. They had no king; most of the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem were in exile in Babylon, but there was a remnant who appeared to be ready to follow the Lord’s instruction. After ten days, the Lord comes to Jeremiah with his answer. His answer was the total opposite that they had asked for, it’s almost as though they came asking from a answer from God with an answer in mind, and then God tells them to stay.
 
Jeremiah 42:7-12

Their position of praying with a desired answer in mind repelled them from the instruction from the Lord. Their immediate response to Jeremiah is that he is lying about what the Lord said and that his assistant Baruch has turned him against them (Jer. 43:1-3). Through this interaction, Jeremiah’s willingness to serve the people while staying true to the service of the Lord expresses a hard line that is to be walked for those who want to be servants of the Lord. What the people were blind to was the power of God to transform their source of fear into a source of mercy, which they were asking for.

The words from Judah’s leaders covered the arrogance they were motivated by and expressed their immediate rejection of the Lord’s answer, revealing their true desire, blinding them to God's transformative power. We need to allow our prayers and actions to flow from a humble, contrite, and trembling response to  God’s Word. Allow the steps you take in life to be in prayerful service for others to know and follow the Lord.