This is the confidence that we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. -1 John 5:14
I have found that many Christians these days are so quick to utter prayers before God. “Lord, if you bring this person into my life, I will serve you for the rest of my life.” “Lord, if you give me this job, I would appreciate it so much.” Lord, just take my life; I can’t go on living like this.” We pray these prayers based on how we feel at a point in our lives, and then a few weeks later, we have completely forgotten what it was that we prayed for. “Do not be quick with your mouth; do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in Heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” –Ecclesiastes 5:2
The problem with many of us regarding our desires and prayers is that we know too much about what we want and too little about what God wants. If we only took some time to look at our situations and our desires through God’s eyes, our prayers would be different, they would be more focused, they would be in His will, and most importantly, I believe they would probably be answered with a resounding YES! Let us make a commitment not to utter anything before God. Before we pray for something, let us honestly consider if it is a request that is in line with God’s will.
Does the person we are praying for have the qualities God describes for a mate? Would the job allow us to serve God the way He ought to be served? Would what we are praying for bring glorification to the name of God? These are the sort of questions we should be asking ourselves before we come before God. James and John in Luke 9:54 asked Jesus a question concerning the Samaritans who did not welcome Him; they said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from Heaven to destroy them?” Jesus immediately rebuked them. They were too hasty in their hearts to utter a request before Him. Didn’t they remember that Jesus was the same person that gave them a second chance? Why would he just allow the Samaritans to be destroyed because they did not welcome Him? If they had thought first, they would have remembered.
In conclusion, I want to encourage us to become more spiritual about our prayers. We ought to consider if our requests are in line with the will of God before we complain that He is not answering our prayers. We would avoid a lot of disappointment in our lives if we would only remember to ask “Is it according to God’s will?” before we set our hopes on people or things. Search out the word of God, seek godly counsel, and seek God himself in prayer concerning His will. The more we know about what God wants, the more our desires and wants should line up with His. God will never grant us requests that push us out of His will.
Stay blessed and spread the word.
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ACCORDING TO HIS WILL