"Why don't you ask God for [insert request here]?"
"Would you pray for [insert person]?"
"God, please change [insert situation]?"
All three of these questions involve some form of a request from God. We plead for such interventions frequently because life is hard. Relationships are messy, jobs are difficult and wellness is often broken. So, we are left on our knees, praying for change. Recently, however, I have realized that in our state of neediness, we allow God to morph into our own personal genie, instead of who He actually is. We write our mile-long "honey do" lists and forget we are actually in the presence of the King of Kings. Here are some signs that God is your genie and not your Savior:
1. Your focus is on your prayers and not on the One who answers them.
Fixing your eyes on everything that is going wrong is, unfortunately, all too easy to do. The problems in your life assume giant-like statures, whilst God takes on a much smaller role in our minds. We forget that He controls everything, that He is faithful and sovereign. Instead, you cast your lot with a man in the sky who is not God, but rather a last resort lottery ticket. Thus, the existence of the "genie God" is allowed to prevail.
2. Life appears to be too much to handle.
When prayer requests climb to a higher place than God in your heart, suddenly, everything feels chaotic. What should have been piled on God's capable shoulders is left weighing on your own. Stress starts to creep in and you believe that the problems in your life are yours alone to solve. Meanwhile, God waits for you to lay down your burdens at His feet.
3. When hard times strike, your Bible remains unopened.
Another easy thing to do when you are stressed and carrying your own burdens is to neglect coming back to the promises of God. While He is gently reminding you not to be afraid and to cast your cares on Him, you are fretting over the injustices of life. Because you are not being filled with truth and the hope that accompanies being a child of God, your prayers grow fear-minded instead of faith-filled. You forget about the life that has been offered to you and accept a mediocre substitute.
4. Your prayers are filled with wants/needs, but not a "change my heart, O God."
The "genie God" mindset consumes you so much that you think situations or people need to change without questioning if God is using this period in your life for your own personal growth. As imperfect people, we are always in need of refinement. Yet your mind has not found the rest or necessary time of reflection needed to understand what is truly at work in the background of your spiritual life.
5. Everything takes precedent over your spiritual life.
When God is your genie, serving Him with your life falls to the back-burner. Jobs, family, friends, music, and media all consume your heart before your Savior does. The Almighty has lost His priority to you and because of this, your focus is now warped and distracted by things that could be easily mended had Christ been dwelling in His rightful place.
If you resonated with any of the points above, you may be wondering, "What's next? How can I climb out of this pit where I have been living?" First, start digging into the Word again. Even five minutes a day can begin to free up your anxious mind to focus on being a disciple instead of a helpless sheep. Secondly, make room for God's voice. If you find that your prayers are starting to become a fearful rant again, stop and listen. Wait for His voice to calm you. And finally, remember to whom you are praying. When you read God's words to you and listen to Him speak, the lens with which you view life's struggles should begin to alter as you are reminded that the God who destroyed sinful nations is the God who is listening to you. The God who calmed storms, used a shepherd boy to kill a giant, and overcame death is your lifeline today. Pray to Him as Lord and not to the incompetent genie you have devised.
