Over the last 35 years I've learned that if you ask the average professing Christian if he has faith in God the answer will usually be a resounding YES!

Yet when I listen to the way some people pray I have to wonder.  How many times have you heard a prayer end with "...if it be thy will..."?  I've often wondered upon hearing this line why the prayer was even uttered.. I, for one, have no intention of asking for anything unless I'm fairly convinced that it is the will of God to provide it.

Jesus taught us that we should pray after this manner "...thy will be done."  This is an act of submission, not an attempt to give God an "out" for unanswered prayers.  When I pray I always say "...let me be an instrument of your will here on Earth...".  I know that I will not always get my way but it's God's perfect will and plan that matters and I am willing to submit to that will, whatever it may be without thinking that God has failed me if MY will isn't done.

So the question arises, "Why do we pray this way?"  Well, after listening to some of my teachers over the years, and hearing the way they interpret some of scriptures I have no problem seeing how a touch of unbelief has crept in.

So how do we know if an interpretation of scripture is correct?  I have a couple of simple rules.

1.     If your interpretation doesn't make sense YOU made a mistake.

2.     If your interpretation contradicts another part of the Bible, once again it is YOU that messed up.

Now I know that God says in Isiah that his thoughts and ways are higher than ours. (Isa 55:9) and I'm also aware of the fact that the Bible tells us that "...the foolishness of God is wiser than men..." (1Cor 1:25) but that is in the present tense.

When I say the our interpretation has to make sense I mean in the light of what we KNOW.  Let me give you an example.

One of my favorite stories is found in the book of Daniel.  We have all heard of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the furnace but let's look at it a little closer.

(Let me interject here that I use the King James Bible, I believe it to be most correct and translated from superior manuscripts, and in some cases not as foolish as some of the newer tomes that are out there.  I'll prove my second point directly)

Dan 3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

Dan 3:14  Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

Dan 3:15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

Dan 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

Dan 3:17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

Dan 3:18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

In this scripture we see Nebuchadnezzar make a statement to these three young men (vs 15) as to what his intentions are towards them.

When they answer the king it is interesting to note the first thing they said to him "...we are not careful to answer thee..."   The word "careful" is khash-akh' and it implies a sense of readiness, and that a reply isn't necessary.  (That must have made the king hot, just imagine these slaves telling him "we don't even have to answer you".)

These guys were "prayed up".  It is evident from their answer that God had made his will known to them so they told the king "If it be so..."(vs 17).  Now ask yourself.  "If WHAT be so?"

The answer: The kings decree or course.

So they proceed to tell the King how God will save them out of the furnace and out of his hand.

Now here comes the mistake in interpretation.  The following is a direct quote from the New International Version and this is how these verses are often taught"

3:18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.

This doesn't say the same thing as the KJV which says "But if not..."  The NIV makes no sense, think about it...if God DOESN'T save them they will be a pile of ashes on the floor of the furnace so saying "...we will not serve your gods..." becomes a moot point.  Now consider this.

When they say "But if not...."  What are they talking about?  Remember the subject of this conversation between them and Nebuchandnezzar was the kings decree, so DON'T CHANGE THE SUBJECT!!

They were not discussing whether or not God would save them, that was a done deal in their hearts.  The question was whether or not the King was going to make good his threats.

So what they are telling him was "If what you say is so and you throw us into the furnace our God WILL save us, not only out of the fire but out of your hand, but if you're trying to bluff us into falling down it won't work, because even if you allow us to live there's nothing you can do to make us pray to your gods."  Now, doesn't that make more sense?

You see, these guys knew what faith was all about.  They submitted themselves to the will of God and knew that they didn't have to give him a "way out" should his word fail.

Remember we serve a God that "can not lie.."  Titus 1:2 so it isn't necessary to make excuses for him.  His way is always the perfect way.  Our part is to submit to it and know that no matter what happens it is the will of God.