When Praying With Bias Intent
Posted: December 7th, 2017, 11:41 am
When you are in earnest prayer with the Lord and pleading with him for revelation on a certain matter, do you believe your bias effects the answer God gives you? Do you believe that He can answer your bias in a way that is not His will and still have it be considered revelation?
For instance, Joseph Smith prayed and asked the Lord if he could give Martin the 116 pages of translated scripture. God said no twice. Joseph again pleaded and then the Lord said yes. So God technically answered Joseph and I believe this could still be considered revelation. But, we all know how the story goes. Joseph was rebuked and shut off from revelation for a time until he repented. This, because he pleaded for something that was not the Lords will. It was not until he repented that he was able to receive revelation again. I believe events like this cause Joseph to say this ".... I made this my rule: When the Lord commands, do it."
I have always believed that we can pray for something but in the end our heart must be "Thy will be done". You can't fool God, he knows if our true intent is otherwise, even if our lips speak the words "Thy will be done".
So then, is revelation received always God's will?
For instance, Joseph Smith prayed and asked the Lord if he could give Martin the 116 pages of translated scripture. God said no twice. Joseph again pleaded and then the Lord said yes. So God technically answered Joseph and I believe this could still be considered revelation. But, we all know how the story goes. Joseph was rebuked and shut off from revelation for a time until he repented. This, because he pleaded for something that was not the Lords will. It was not until he repented that he was able to receive revelation again. I believe events like this cause Joseph to say this ".... I made this my rule: When the Lord commands, do it."
I have always believed that we can pray for something but in the end our heart must be "Thy will be done". You can't fool God, he knows if our true intent is otherwise, even if our lips speak the words "Thy will be done".
So then, is revelation received always God's will?