How the Cutreras Kill Flies

Yesterday, as I was sitting at the computer, my son walked up and threw a pencil at the wall. After I gave him my best do-you-want-to-pay-to-repair-the-drywall look, he calmly stated, “I saw the fly. I was trying to kill it.”

You see, a fly has been buzzing around our house for the past couple of days. Everyone is prepared to eliminate it. The kids and I had a discussion over lunch one day about how to best get rid of flies.

“Buy a Venus fly trap.”

“Get a pet frog”

“Make a robot that looks like a frog and send it after the fly.”

“Have Mommy sew a web. Then cover it with glue, and put some bait in it to lure the fly.”

No fly swatters for us. No way. Apparently we’re high on creativity and low on common sense.

When you think about it, though, how we rid ourselves of this fly is really of secondary importance. That we rid ourselves of it is key.

I think sometimes we approach prayer the same way my children approach killing flies. We have a problem, so we go to the Lord. But not with our problem. Instead, we bring Him a possible list of solutions. “God, if You could just…” and we outline our plan to solve the problem. And just in case plan A doesn’t work out, we throw in plans B, C, and D, offering tips and suggestions for how God might go about fixing things.

But God tells us to “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10a, ESV)

He describes Himself like this:

“Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD,

or what man shows him his counsel?

What man did he consult,

and who made him understand?

Who taught him the path of justice,

and taught him knowledge,

and showed him the way of understanding?”

(Isaiah 40:13-14, ESV)

The one true living God is high on creativity and common sense. He’s full of understanding, knowledge, and wisdom. His ideas are better than ours. “O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Romans 11:33, ESV)

I think this why He tells us to pray like this: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6, ESV).

“Let your requests be made known to God.”

Not your solutions. Your requests.

Tell God your problems. Ask for His help. And leave the details to Him.

He knows a lot more about flies than we do.