“Don’t pray to be a better Christian, but to be more Christlike.” Excerpt from a letter from the Underground Church

I read this excerpt in the book, Tortured for Christ. I have never suffered for my faith like those who live in countries where they cannot openly worship or where others are hostile to our Lord and Savior Jesus the Messiah.

I do, though, understand the sentiment behind this prayer. I don’t ask the Lord to change my circumstances, but to change me in the midst of those circumstances. I may not have control over what others do to me, but I do have control over what I do in the midst of what others are doing to me.

This, I believe, is what the Psalmist was writing in 57:2, “I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills His purpose for me.” The word purpose is to be made complete. For Jesus believers, this means becoming more like Jesus (life transformation).

We don’t often cry out, however, in this manner when life is going well. Why? Because it’s going well! Therefore, the writers pain threshold has reached a level where they finally cry out for an encounter with the only One who could make them whole – the God Most High.

I don’t have to like pain, but I can embrace it to draw closer to Jesus. He not only loves me, but also suffered far more pain than I could ever imagine to bring me into contact with the God Most High – the life changer.

May we all draw closer to Jesus – no matter the kind of days we are having.