I Do Will It

January 7 - Friday after Epiphany

1 John 5:5-13 / Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 / Luke 5:12-16

“I Do Will It”

What a strange thing to say to Jesus: “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Is the leper’s prayer, “If you wish…” holy resignation? Is it a mere formality? Does he already believe that Jesus wills his healing? Is it a hope? Is it a desperate plea? Is it some combination of these?

When we pray, “…if it is in accord with your will,” how often do we get the response, “I do will it?” What do we believe God wills for us? What do we expect from God in answer to our prayers? 

The classical answer for what God wills is that we love and serve God while being reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy in the next. We know that God wills that we love one another; that we have eternal life; that we believe in his Son.

But what about our “lesser” prayers – the prayers that do not deal with the “ultimate things”?  Prayers that we or someone we know be made clean of some habit, addiction or illness: perhaps the healing would free us or our loved one for some kind of service to humanity and God; perhaps our suffering could unite us to the Lord’s passion. Prayer for the success of the work of our hands: perhaps our achievement could bring God glory; perhaps our failure could make us turn to him more ardently and re-evaluate where we direct our efforts.

“Lord, if you wish you can…”

What do I want? What does God will?

• Make a quick response to this question:
• What is your “If you wish you can…” statement? 
• What do you believe God wills for you? Are you willing to ask for it now?
• What have you asked for in prayer that you do not believe has been granted to you? Speak to God about this, and ask God to bring you to faith with or without the answer that you desire.