"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. He shaped his life and ministry around pleasing God by being obedient to His 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 revealed in the pages of the Bible. 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 called, "Father Knows Best." We must remind ourselves that we live the best possible lives when we desire to know and do God's will. Our Heavenly Father knows best!
Knowing God's will before we pray will require an investment of time in reading the Bible. Scripture teaches us 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 supply 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. Remind yourself what God had promised you in Scripture, It will build your faith and give you the needed confidence to ask God according to His will, and not just according to your own desire.
Review:
1. Prayer Is Simply Talking And Listening To God.
2. Prayer Should Flow From A Contrite Heart.
3. Your Prayers Should Be Confident.
4. Your Prayers Should Be Concise And To The Point.
5. Your Prayers Should Be Consistent And Constant.
6. Pray In Jesus' Name.
7. Pray About Everything!
8. You Do Not Have Because You Don't Ask God.
9. Asking God With The Wrong Motive Doesn't Work.
10. Ask Expecting To Receive From God.
11. Ask God To Bless Your Enemies As You Pray.
12. Ask The Lord To Make You More Loving As You Pray.
13. Make Talking To God A Priority Every Day.
14. Pray According To God's Will.
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