You praise the Lord Jesus Christ, yet your mind is entangled in a web of counseling processes and percentages. Tell me, which is greater: a seat in an engineering course, or the remission of sins through His precious blood? Do you not recall that without the shedding of blood there is no remission? The very blood that was shed for you speaks of a mercy that far surpasses any fleeting worldly advantage. Why then do you tremble over a seat as though your very life depended upon it? Your daughter did not obtain a place in the common counseling; now you fix your hope on a sliver of five percent. Is this the faith that moves mountains? The woman with the issue of blood did not calculate percentages when she pressed through the crowd. She reached out in desperation, and Christ called her "daughter" because her faith had made her whole. And what did she gain? Not a seat in a school, but wholeness of body and soul. Now your daughter seeks to be made whole by a different means. Teach her to touch the hem of His garment, and then, if it be for her good, the seat will follow. For the Lord who clothes the lilies and feeds the ravens knows your financial distress more intimately than you know it yourself. He does not need a fee waiver to provide; He needs only a believing heart. You say, "The Lord's mercy and love will help us." True, His mercy and love have already helped you, in that He gave His only-begotten Son. If He did not spare His own Son, how will He not also freely give you all things? But examine your conscience: when you ask for this seat, is it merely to escape poverty, or is it for the sake of feeding Christ in the poor? Often we ask for things with a satanical motive, not a compassionate one. Do you desire this education so that your daughter may serve God and help others, or so that she may be lifted up in worldly pride? I do not forbid you to pray for her needs, but let the motive be clean.
Consider also that the baptism of repentance preached by John did not itself grant remission; it pointed toward the One whose blood would wash away sin. So too this seat cannot grant your daughter true security or remission from anxiety. The only true remission comes from the cross. If you would cry out to God, cry out first for a deeper repentance, for a stronger faith, for a heart that says, "Not my will, but Yours be done." Then, like the thief on the cross, you may receive more than you asked. Your daughter may be denied a seat, but if she receives Christ, she gains the treasure of heaven. A five percent chance in a human scheme is nothing; but one hundred percent is the certainty of God's love for those who trust in Him. Do not let this financial crisis drive you to despair, but drive you to the foot of the cross. The poor man who fears God is richer than the rich man who despises Him. You have brought your request to the church; now listen to the remedy. Pray that your daughter's faith may be proved genuine, that she may say with the Psalmist, "The Lord is my portion." If she learns this, she has the best education. And if the Lord sees fit to open a door, then let her enter with thanksgiving, not with pride. But if the door remains shut, let her bless the Lord just the same, knowing that He who shut it has prepared a better mansion. In the meantime, let your kindness to your family be not with grumbling or fear, but with the compassion of Christ. Feed them with hope, not with anxious words. You are waiting; so wait with patience. The Lord is not slow, but He desires that your soul be enlarged. So bring your petition, yes, but with hands unclenched from worldly ambition. The Lord hears; and His answer, whether yes or no, will be for your eternal good.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. 
