“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” 1 John 5:14 NIV
Many who do not know God pray, but they are not seeking God’s will in prayer. Rather, they are trying to use Him, whoever they conceive Him to be, to get what they want. Biblical prayer is not trying to talk God into giving us what we want. Rather, it is submitting our will to His will. It would be the height of stupidity to pray for our will to be done as opposed to God’s will. For one thing, it would mean that we know better than God what is best for our life. But He knows everything and He has assured us that He loves us far more than the best earthly father loves his children. It only makes sense then to submit to and pray for His will for your life and for others. To pray for our will against God’s will would be asking God to abdicate His sovereignty over the universe and submit to us as the sovereign! I hope that I’m not discouraging us from praying, but I want us to understand that while God promises to grant our requests when we ask according to His will, it’s not a simple, “name it and claim it,” process. There should be carefulness in our praying, a waiting on Him, trusting Him even when things don’t work out as we thought they would. Giving thanks that He is at work answering our prayer; in which His kingdom, His Rule, His Reign are worked out in our lives and situations through His mercy and grace, bringing glory and honour to His name. We must persevere in prayer even when we do not understand His ways. Yet we know that He is still good, filled with love, mercy and grace toward us. The general principle, that if we ask anything according to God’s will, He hears and grants our requests.
PRAYER THOUGHT
Lord, as we seek Your good and pleasing will, You answer us.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord, as we persevere in prayer even when we do not understand Your ways, we know that You are still good, filled with love, mercy and grace toward us. As we ask anything according to Your will, You hear us. AMEN
I.B.R.A. Readings
Ruth 1:1-19a
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