Last night in Bible study we talked about prayer. Too often when we pray, we forget that God already knows the details of our requests, what is on our hearts, and how to respond in His infinite wisdom. All we need to do is to lay our burdens at His feet and trust in Him. “Come to me all you are are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)

Mary, the mother of Jesus, gave an excellent example. “When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.'” (John 2:3) She didn’t have to suggest how He should fix the situation, she only told Him the need. Her trust was in Him.

Why is it that we think after we pray it’s our responsibility to do all we can to bring about the answer? Why do we take the battle into our own hands? How many times do we actually hinder God’s answer to our prayers? Mary gives us a simple response after our requests are made to the Lord: “His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever He tells you.'” (John 2:5)

The key is to remember WHO we are praying to, His character, His love, mercy, grace and His infinite power over all things. “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (Eph. 1:16-23)

And remember His promises and trust: “And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” (Rom. 8:27)

This morning, I was thinking (and singing) the old Hymn “Victory in Jesus”, particularly the 2nd verse and chorus:

I heard about His healing,
Of His cleansing power revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, “Dear Jesus,
Come and heal my broken spirit,”
And somehow Jesus came and brought
To me the victory.

Chorus: O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him,
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

So when we come to Him in prayer, let’s remember to do whatever He tells you.'” (John 2:5)