HOW CAN I MAKE SURE I'M PRAYING THE WILL OF GOD?
QUESTIONS ABOUT PRAYER
NATURE OF PRAYER
James 1:5-6 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Romans 8:26-27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to determine within your own heart if you are praying for things God wants, or if what you are praying for is just something you want. This makes sense given that we are constantly in a war of spirit and flesh within ourselves. So, how can we make sure we’re praying the will of God instead of just praying our own desires? The first thing we should do is to ask for wisdom from God. In asking for wisdom, we must also trust that God is gracious and willing to answer our prayers. So, praying according to the will of God includes asking for wisdom to know the will of God, and asking in faith to trust the will of God. Below are five more biblical instructions that will help to guide every believer in praying according to God’s will instead of our own.
1. Pray for the things the Bible commands you to pray for: We are told to pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44); for God to send missionaries (Luke 10:2); that we do not enter temptation (Matthew 26:41); for ministers of the Word (Colossians 4:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:1); for government authorities (1 Timothy 2:1-3); for relief from affliction (James 5:13); and for the healing of fellow believers (James 5:16). Where Gods word has already commanded prayer, we can pray with confidence, knowing that we are praying according to His will and not our own.
2. Follow the example of the prayers of godly characters in Scripture: Paul prayed for the salvation of Israel (Romans 10:1). David prayed for mercy and forgiveness when he sinned (Psalm 51:1-2). The early church prayed for boldness to witness (Acts 4:29). Solomon prayed for wisdom (1 Kings 2). Each of these prayers were according to the will of God. As with Paul and the early church, we should always be praying for the salvation of others. For ourselves, we should pray as David prayed, always aware of our sin and bringing it before God before it hinders our relationship with Him.
3. Pray with the right spirit toward others: A proud or selfish spirit in prayer is not pleasing to God. A spirit of bitterness, anger, revenge, or hatred toward others will prevent our hearts from praying in total submission to God. Just as we are told not to give offerings to God while there is a conflict between ourselves and another Christian (Matthew 5:23-24), in the same way, God does not want the offering of our prayers until we have reconciled with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and our spirit is right before God. The only prayer you should pray if your spirit is not right is that God would renew a right spirit within you. (Psalm 51:10-12)
4. Pray from a place of gratitude and thanksgiving: (Colossians 4:2; Philippians 4:6-7). We can always find something to be thankful for, no matter how burdened we are with our wants or needs. A person who prays a prayer of gratitude is always praying in the perfect will of God.
5. Rely on the Holy Spirit to give you the right words to speak: (Romans 8:26-27). Did you know that we have the Spirit’s help in praying? At the times of our deepest depression or sorrow, those times when we feel that we don’t know what to say or if what we do say is right or wrong, we have the comfort of knowing that the Holy Spirit is actually praying for us, and will put words and thoughts on our heart that come from a pure and rightly aligned place. (John 14:26).
1. Pray for the things the Bible commands you to pray for: We are told to pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44); for God to send missionaries (Luke 10:2); that we do not enter temptation (Matthew 26:41); for ministers of the Word (Colossians 4:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:1); for government authorities (1 Timothy 2:1-3); for relief from affliction (James 5:13); and for the healing of fellow believers (James 5:16). Where Gods word has already commanded prayer, we can pray with confidence, knowing that we are praying according to His will and not our own.
2. Follow the example of the prayers of godly characters in Scripture: Paul prayed for the salvation of Israel (Romans 10:1). David prayed for mercy and forgiveness when he sinned (Psalm 51:1-2). The early church prayed for boldness to witness (Acts 4:29). Solomon prayed for wisdom (1 Kings 2). Each of these prayers were according to the will of God. As with Paul and the early church, we should always be praying for the salvation of others. For ourselves, we should pray as David prayed, always aware of our sin and bringing it before God before it hinders our relationship with Him.
3. Pray with the right spirit toward others: A proud or selfish spirit in prayer is not pleasing to God. A spirit of bitterness, anger, revenge, or hatred toward others will prevent our hearts from praying in total submission to God. Just as we are told not to give offerings to God while there is a conflict between ourselves and another Christian (Matthew 5:23-24), in the same way, God does not want the offering of our prayers until we have reconciled with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and our spirit is right before God. The only prayer you should pray if your spirit is not right is that God would renew a right spirit within you. (Psalm 51:10-12)
4. Pray from a place of gratitude and thanksgiving: (Colossians 4:2; Philippians 4:6-7). We can always find something to be thankful for, no matter how burdened we are with our wants or needs. A person who prays a prayer of gratitude is always praying in the perfect will of God.
5. Rely on the Holy Spirit to give you the right words to speak: (Romans 8:26-27). Did you know that we have the Spirit’s help in praying? At the times of our deepest depression or sorrow, those times when we feel that we don’t know what to say or if what we do say is right or wrong, we have the comfort of knowing that the Holy Spirit is actually praying for us, and will put words and thoughts on our heart that come from a pure and rightly aligned place. (John 14:26).