Pray According To God’s Will
“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.” I John 5:14-15 (New Living Translation).
God is not obligated to sponsor anything or anyone who contradicts His will and values. Jesus understood the importance of doing the Father’s will, and He shaped his life and ministry around pleasing God’s will.
“For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.” John 6:38 (New Living Translation).
“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Luke 22:42 (New Living Translation).
The will of God is evident in the pages of the Bible, and we must bring our requests to God with a sincere attitude of total submission to God’s will. Years ago, there was an old television show here in America called, “Father Knows Best,” and we must remind ourselves that we live the best possible lives when we desire to know and do God’s will.
Knowing God’s will before we pray will require time in reading the Bible and learning more about God’s will and ways. We must try to understand what He values and what He considers worthy of His time and resources. God has priorities, and He gladly supplies us with what we need to fulfill our Kingdom responsibilities. Again, He is not obligated to sponsor and provide us with trivial things to satisfy our quest for more and more selfish pleasure.
“And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.” James 4:3-4 (New Living Translation).
Spend the time to find out what God wants from us as revealed in the Bible. When you ask according to the will of God, He delights in granting you your requests.
Action Steps:
- Look at the things you have been asking God for lately.
- Do they contradict or confirm the values and will of God as revealed in scripture?
- In your prayer time, remind yourself of what you have read in the Bible concerning your needs.
- Tell yourself what God had promised you in Scripture.
- It will build your faith and give you the confidence to ask God according to His will, and not just according to your desires.
Excerpted from Go Vertical by Iann Schonken:
