How God Might Answer - Praying for Wisdom - Conclusion to 'I Am In Control'
Mayor Jimbo’s nightmare was an example of ignorance and hubris, both in the extreme.
Fortunately, it was just a bad dream, not real.
Here is a prayer that he can pray, before he goes back to sleep. In fact, after he prays, he will have no trouble falling back to sleep!
Dear God,
Thank you for bringing me safely all the way to New York City. It’s breathtaking that I woke up today on my farm in Tennessee and will go to sleep 2 blocks from the lights of Broadway!
Thank you for this opportunity to learn about your creation, meet new people and develop my skills.
Lord, although I am excited to be here, I am apprehensive. I have never been to a city this size, nor have I attended an event with this many big-time politicians. I don’t know anybody, and I’m pretty sure they don’t know me.
I would like to make a good impression, meet with people who might be able to help us back home, and enjoy this city that I have only seen while watching ‘Law and Order’ on TV.
Lord, guide my steps as I navigate this new experience. Let me deliver whatever is expected of me as an attendee. Place me in situations where I can be myself, represent my community and improve my understanding of municipal management, budget processes and political savvy so I can be a better mayor in the future.
I thank you for your guidance and your patience as I learn.
I always feel so much better after talking things over with you. Thank you for hearing me, and for helping me.
I love you very much.
In Jesus’ name, I pray, AMEN!
Whether you like the Mayor’s prayer ‘style,’ he made a pretty good prayer sandwich!
Thanks and praise,
then the reason for his apprehension,
then more thanks and praise,
closing, in Jesus’ name.
You might use different words to express what you were concerned with or what you needed to know more about. You might thank and praise different aspects of God’s deeds and who He is. That’s okay.
Because as we said at the beginning God understands you.
Notice, beyond the stylistic options, what other things he did very effectively:
Expectant - He expects the Lord to help him.
Humble - Despite his ‘I’m in control’ bravado, his tone in prayer is submissive and respectful.
Thanks and Praise - In the opening, and in the closing. Not forced, but specific and sincere.
Reasonable - While we can pray to God for anything, at a certain point, if you are just thinking crazy things, you are ‘putting God to the test,’ which is specifically called out in scripture as a commandment not to do. The mayor’s request is very reasonable.
Familiar - He has a relationship with the Lord. His approach to His heavenly father is respectful, but still suggests that they know each other and have spoken many times before.
In Jesus’ name - As mentioned, Jesus urges us to pray in His name.
Belief in the Power of Prayer - Even before he started praying, he knew that prayer was his first step toward avoiding a potential problem.
Later that morning, Mayor Jimbo heads over to the conference, confident that he was not alone, that the Lord was with him, and no matter what happened, he was not apprehensive, nervous or afraid.
He actually meets Tim, the security guard, who smiles pleasantly and wishes him a good day.