Many a
young child has excitedly played the game of “Guess What’s in My Hand” with
their fathers. Daddy comes home with the words, "I have a surprise for
you.” With a closed fist he asks, “What's in my hand?” The child proceeds to
guess and then will often begin to attempt to pry at daddy's hand to get a peek
of the surprise inside. The game can go on indefinitely as a child searches
his/her mind for what treat daddy may have brought home. Peals of laughter
often accompany the attempt. The process of finding the gift is often more fun
and rewarding than the actual receipt of it.
Scripture
tells us that our lives and times are in the hands of God. King David
confidently stated “But I trusted in, relied on, and was confident in You, O
Lord; I said, You are my God. My times are in Your hands.” (Psalm
31:14-15a AMP) We can walk
securely in this truth and face every unknown in our lives with the same
confidence that God is taking care of us. He has even inscribed us in the palm
of His hand. “Behold, I have
indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My
hands.” (Isaiah 49:16a AMP)
All the plans that God has for us are in this secure hold.
There
comes a time, like in this child's game, to ask God to open His hand and show
us the way that we should go. “Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for
on You do I lean and in You do I trust. Cause me to know the way wherein I
should walk, for I lift up my inner self to You.” (Psalm 143:8 AMP) We need wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit for each
step that we are to take. “A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps
and makes them sure.” (Proverbs 16:9 AMP) God’s order and perfect plan are what
we truly seek.
As we
enter this phase of prayer we can confidently know that only good things are in
the Father's hands. “Every
good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes
down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there
can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an
eclipse].” (James 1:17 AMP) As Jesus taught He asked, “What father among you, if his son
asks for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone; or if he asks for a fish, will
instead of a fish give him a serpent? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a
scorpion? If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts [gifts that
are to their advantage] to your children, how much more will your heavenly
Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!” (Luke 11:11-13 AMP) God may give us
something different, yet even better than what we have asked for. We have every
reason to be confident of the Heavenly Father’s love and good intentions toward
us.
It is
God's expressed will that we seek the riches of His wisdom. “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory
of kings is to search out a thing.” (Proverbs 25:2
AMP) As we continue to pray He will reveal all things to us. When we have searched for and finally see the fullness of
God's plan for our lives we will experience the same excitement that causes a
child to squeal with joy when daddy's hand opens and the gift is made apparent.
The hand is not clenched too tight, even if it appears to be
so. God is waiting to release the answers to us as we pray. We must simply be
obedient and continue to seek Him. “Also
[Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and
not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up).” (Luke 18:1 AMP) There is no cause for worry and concern. “Do not be seized with alarm
and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to
give you the kingdom!” (Luke
12:32 AMP)
Life’s
situations may appear bleak and the path ahead difficult at best. We must keep
praying with childlike faith and we will receive the answer. “At that time Jesus began to say, I
thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth [and I acknowledge openly and
joyfully to Your honor], that You have hidden these things from the wise and
clever and learned, and revealed them to babies [to the childish, untaught, and
unskilled]. Yes, Father, [I praise You that] such was Your gracious will and
good pleasure.” (Matthew
11:25-26 AMP) Daddy will open His hand and reveal His perfect will to us.
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