Written by Greg Laurie
Today is the National Day of Prayer. Remember to pray for our nation regularly, but especially today!
The Key to Answered Prayer
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”—John 15:7
How often have you felt that your prayers were hitting a glass ceiling—as though the Lord were saying no?
Maybe it is because you are praying outside of His will. Maybe it is because you were praying for something that God didn’t want you to have.
We need to remember the promise Jesus spoke of in John 15, which says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” Another translation puts it this way: “If you maintain a living communion with Me and My words are at home with you, you can ask at once for yourself whatever your heart desires, and it is yours.”
I really like that translation—especially the part that tells us to ask at once whatever our hearts desire. But let’s remember the condition: “If you maintain a living communion with Me and My words are at home with you. . . . ”
If you are maintaining a living communion with God, and His words are at home with you, then your desires going to change. Your prayers will not necessarily be the same as they were before.
As you get in sync with the will of God, you’ll see that prayer is not getting God to do what you want Him to do, but that prayer is getting you to do what God wants you to do.
You will discover the important truth that prayer is not bending God our way—it is bending us His way. And then, you just may see your prayers being answered in the affirmative.
5 comments:
"prayer is getting you to do what God wants you to do" Pretty cool interpretation. I can tell you that I have spent some tremendous time in prayer over the last few days with my father-in-laws recent incident and God is amazing. I do agree that we should essentially just seeking His will. He knows our hearts desires already.
I do also pray for our nation today and that America learns to bless God.
Blessings,
cas
LORD, we're here and we're in need of You. Instill in the American people a renewed desire for Your leading. Inject into our leaders the wisdom that only You can provide. Confirm in me that the only prayer that matters is that Your kingdom would come. Amen.
tba
I struggle with this one. My will and wants vs God's will. Especially when the things I pray for seem "ok" to ask. But I must say that God is so good and has guided me no matter what. One thing I have realized lately is that I am good at asking God for something. But I am not as good about praising Him when He answers.
Nice reminder, Clark, on the National Day of Prayer. We're glad things worked out for Kate's dad, Bill. We continue to pray for his recovery.
TBA, I echo your prayer and TRD I agree with following through with praise.
I commit to spending time praying for the direction of the universal church in our country today.
This is a nice reminder about prayer.
I also lack in giving praise when it is do to the Lord.
- LT
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