Our Prayers and His Will

Effective prayers are those that are according to His will. One of our problems is that we often desire and pray for what is not His will.

The will of God is paramount. The Lord Jesus made it clear that He came from heaven "to do the will of Him who sent me" (John 6:38) and He did just that. If you read His wonderful High Priestly prayer in John 17 you'll see He said to His Father "I have glorified Thee on earth accomplishing the work You gave me to do" (v4). In the darkness and dread of Gethsemane, He prayed "Nevertheless THY WILL BE DONE".

When we pray according to His will, He hears us and grants our request. When you know His will, you submit to it. This reveals a submissive heart and a humble spirit. Daniel, the godly statesman and prophet, when he read the prophecy of Jeremiah, he knew that Israel would go into captivity; it was about the desolation of Jerusalem (Daniel 9:2). For 72 years, there would be the Babylonian captivity, so he prayed for its fulfilment! It wasn't fatalism. It was identification with the will of God. He didn't try to change God's will.

Now, you'll say "How can we know God's will?" By diligent study of the Word of God. In the light of this truth, think of what God has said about the Coming Again of our Lord Jesus. God will bring to pass those things we are told about. Pray for these things to come to pass.

Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you God's will and then bring your prayers in line with that. Like Daniel, we live in tremendous times. Many of God's promises are coming to pass. Never before have there been such world events that warn of His return. So many things have happened in the 50 years that can only be the wake up call to the Church (that is all true believers) and warning to the world. God is reminding us that according to His word He will shake the earth and the heavens!

Daniel prayed "Oh Lord do not delay" (Daniel 9:19).

Praise the Lord for His sure promises and take heart but always remember to pray according to His will. Be of good courage. Pray without ceasing.

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