A request
I don't really like having demands put on me. I don't mind a request but I'm not so keen on demands. I think most of us are like that. We don't like someone approaching us and demanding that we give them something or do something for them. It's presumptuous.
Are there times we feel we can do this to God? There are some who think that if we demand things from God, then he will give them to us - that he expects us to come with confidence. But there is a difference between confidence and arrogance.
Arrogance is demanding what we want.
Confidence is knowing God will provide what is best for us, whatever we ask.
Listen to how King David approaches the great King in Psalm 20:
Psalm 20:1
May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you...
This is a prayer - a request. Said with confidence, it is a faithful submission to God - seeking his protection but also depending on his character as our loving Father. David continues:
Psalm 20:4
May he give you the desires of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
Again, this is not a demand but a plea, a request, a faithful offering of need. And the key here is the attitude of David in approaching the King. As we ask God to "fulfil the desires of our hearts" we need to ask ourselves: "Is my heart in line with His? Are my desires His desires? Do I trust His provision? Do I trust Him to provide what we need and to shape our heart's desires"
Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots nd some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God
They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
If our trust is in the Lord, we can humbly request Him to shape our desires and provide our needs.
The old hymn "Be Thou my vision" says:
"Heart of my own heart whatever befall, still be my vision O ruler of all."
Can our request, not our demand, simply be that his heart be our heart, and His vision our vision?
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
May you answer our needs, may you protect us, may you provide for us in the ways we need, may you humble us before your great throne and may you align our hearts with yours that we may desire what you desire, for the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.