- 1 John 5:14-15 - And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
- Matthew 7:7-11 - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
- Philippians 4:6 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
- Matthew 26:39 - And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
The Lord calls us to pray according to His will and gives us His Spirit to guide us. Throughout Scripture, we are encouraged to pray. Jesus taught His disciples to keep asking, seeking, and knocking, trusting that the Heavenly Father would give good things to His children. We are also called to pray about everything when we face anxiety.
Today's verses assure us that the Lord hears our prayers and answers them. But this promise is tied to an important condition: we must ask in accordance with His will. Much of God's will is clearly revealed in the Scriptures. But what should we do about matters not directly mentioned in the Bible? While we want to be sure the Lord will answer, we may sometimes be unsure if our desire aligns with His purposes.
If we want to pray effectively, our goal should not be to offer hasty, thoughtless, or self-centered prayers in the hope of a quick answer. Instead, we must learn to pray with wisdom and wait patiently. In addition to presenting our anxieties and requests to God, we must surrender ourselves to the Father, just as Jesus did in Gethsemane. When we surrender to the Lord and obey Him, His Spirit will guide us and provide the wisdom needed to pray according to His will.
Reflection
What step can you take to balance your personal desires with God's will in your prayer life?
