I am glad I don’t work in the office of my local alderman. People don’t call to tell the alderman what a great job he’s doing. They call because they’re furious about all the potholes in their street . . . because the parking regulations on their block are so stupid . . . because the nearby tavern spills noisy drunks out onto the street at 2:00 a.m.! For good measure, the callers always remind the alderman that they deserve better service because of the fortune in property taxes they are paying.

Do you suppose God gets prayer messages on his “call-in line” that are demanding, petulant, aggrieved, and full of complaints? I’m sure he does. Occasionally I even catch myself feeling a sense of spiritual entitlement, as though I deserve a better stream of divine interventions in my life. You know, there’s only one appropriate posture for our body language when we come to God’s throne, and that’s humility.

Like the Roman military officer who came to Jesus desperate for a medical miracle for a treasured member of his staff: “That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed” (Luke 7:7). That officer is my hero. He made no demands. He assumed that Jesus already knew his needs. He didn’t beg, bully, whine, argue, or offer a bribe. He just humbly presented his aching need and expressed complete confidence in Jesus’ wisdom and power. 

Just say the word!