By ‘making request if by any means I might come to you,’ Paul was giving God a blank check. He was giving God permission to use any means He chose to get him to Rome. How different that is from the way I often pray. I say, ‘I’m the quarterback, Lord; You’re my offensive line. Run interference for me, and we’ll make this happen.’

Are your prayers direct — or are they directive? Watch out for directive prayers in which you tell the Father what to do. Instead, be one who prays directly, saying, ‘Lord, You know the needs I have. You’ve asked me to share them with You. I know You know them, Father, but to enjoy fellowshipping with You, I give them to You. This is my desire, my burden, my concern. Now, Lord, Your will be done by any means You see fit.’

‘But aren’t we supposed to name it and claim it?’ you ask.

Ask Hezekiah about that ...

‘0 Lord, let me live,’ he prayed. ‘I know Isaiah said I was supposed to die, but, Lord, let me live. I name it and claim it.’ In Hebrew, the account reads that he turned his face to the wall and chirped like a bird incessantly, demanding his own way until finally the Lord said, ‘Okay, live,’ (see 2 Kings 20:1 6). When messengers from Babylon came to congratulate him on his recovery, Hezekiah responded by taking them on a tour of the treasures of Israel. And it was this report which led Nebuchadnezzar to subsequently invade Israel. Meanwhile, Hezekiah fathered a son named Manassah, who would become the worst king in Israel’s history.

The Lord did indeed answer Hezekiah’s prayer by prolonging his life fifteen years. But those fifteen years were disastrous both to Hezekiah personally and to the kingdom nationally. How much better it would have been had Hezekiah simply shared his heart with the Father and said, ‘Not my will, but Thy will be done.’

That’s the way to pray, gang, because that’s how Jesus prayed in the hour of His greatest need (Luke 22:42). Our faith is not to be in our own plans but in the goodness and wisdom of our Father.