“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15)
Have you ever been frustrated by prayer?
I think we can all admit to feeling disappointed when things don’t go our way, especially when we bring our requests to God and feel as though they go unanswered. After all, doesn’t the Bible say what we ask of God will be given to us?
John 15:7 says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
It is easy to focus on the second part of this verse. However, it is extremely important to understand what Jesus means when he says “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you.” If we are walking in-step with the Lord, His will can be revealed to us. This means we are to fully submit ourselves to the Lord and His timing. Rather holding on to our own wants and desires, we must be open to God’s plan for us.
When the Holy Spirit is inside of us and we allow God to work in our lives, we often realize God’s plan is much greater than our own. Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” While we may think we know what is best for us, our creator in heaven has a purpose for each of our lives that is beyond what we could imagine.
When we decide to truly live for Christ, we pray according to His will rather than our own. This must come from a place of humility, as we realize that we were created to glorify God. Matthew 5:16 says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
I encourage you to draw near to Christ and find hope in knowing that when we pray according to His will, our prayers will be answered. Through the power of prayer, we can experience God and grow in our faith in Him. In times when you may feel discouraged, remember that God works through our lives when we give our hearts to Him. This a very powerful thing.
Grand Canyon University is a Christian college with a biblically rooted mission. To learn more about GCU, visit our website!
