SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 20: 1-16
FOCUS: “But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?” (Matthew 20: 13)
MEMORY VERSE: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6: 10)
In our Focal Scripture, the householder reminded one of the labourers that were hired in the early hours, that he had an agreement with them for a penny. So, these early labourers entered into an agreement with the householder, and he paid them same amount he agreed with them. Other labourers were just told that they would be given what is right, and they were fine with it. Some trusted the householder, others insisted on negotiating.
Friend, don’t be counted amongst labourers who literally negotiate with the Father. Don’t be transactional with God. Don’t approach God with your personal expectations alone, without making room for what His will for you truly is. Don’t be that servant that already has desires without considering what the plan of God is. Don’t be stuck in the goals you want to attain that you forget to make room for better and higher options from heaven.
Did you notice that the servants who were hired much later, including the ones hired in the eleventh hour, all got a penny like those who were hired early in the morning? Those who opted to get what was right, at the discretion of the householder, got paid the same amount as those who labored all day. When you make room for the will of God, you actually make room to get more than you actually deserve. God’s will always pays better.
Surrender your will to the will of God. As you make prayers, make more room for the will of God to be done in your life. As you seek to receive from God, look beyond what you can ask for and seek to have that which God thinks to be right for you. It’s okay to have ambitions, but do well to surrender your ambitions to the will of the Father. Do well to make your thoughts, plans, desires, expectations, etc. subject to the will of the Father.
Be deliberate to open up your heart to receive the will of the Father. Don’t let your desire to negotiate make you miss out on the will of God.
FURTHER READING: JEREMIAH 29, MATTHEW 6
DECLARATION:
- I choose the will of God over my ambitions, in Jesus’ name!
