The Perfect Prayer
When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. - Matthew 8:1-3
It’s the perfect prayer! “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” It trusts that the Lord has the ability and the power to do absolutely anything – “You can make me clean.” It also trusts that the Lord will only use that power if it is in line with his good and gracious will – “If you are willing.”
It’s essentially a prayer that says, “Lord, I know you can. But I am good with it if you don’t, because I know your love for me will always drive your actions and your inactions.” What an amazing response from the Lord to prove both of those things: “I am willing. Be clean!”
I don’t know what you’re dealing with today. Maybe you’ve been dealing with it for years. Whatever it is, big or small, take it to the Lord and ask for his help. Trust his power can do absolutely anything, and his love will always do what’s best.
Whatever his answer is, you win!
