In this Prayer Project I will be taking fairly common verses regarding prayer and expanding upon them. I hope you enjoy this project. Right now, I have picked 8 verses to write on. I may end up doing more or not. One never knows with a writer who has a random mind.
The Prayer Project - 1
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” - 1 John 5:14 NIV
Did you know you can be certain that you will receive eternal life? It’s not based on any feelings, thoughts or inadequacies you feel you may have. It’s based on God’s promise that we would receive eternal life through the blood shed by his Son Jesus Christ. Our walk with God ebbs and flows throughout our lives. We have good days and bad days. We have days when we feel spiritually strong and days when we feel like Samson after his hair was cut off. It’s not about us! It’s about what has been done for us. Remember that when you are down in the dumps. His love and forgiveness are unconditional.
The notion of getting anything we ask for is largely misunderstood because of the individual’s blind eye to the phrase “according to his will”. This particular verse just says, “he hears us”, not that he gives us whatever we ask for. Verse 14 says, “he hears us whenever we ask for anything that please him.” The way to know what pleases God is to read his word.
The Apostle James wrote his letter “to the ‘twelve tribes’ scattered abroad”. He had something to say about not receiving what you ask for from God. In James 4:3 he declares, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” It is vital and required that what we ask for is according to the will of God for us as individuals. God has a corporate or general will for all believers, such as speaking the gospel message to an unsaved world. He also has an individual will based on the gifts he has given you. Do you know what your spiritual gifts are? Mine are writing, preaching, teaching, encouraging, serving and praying. It’s taken me years to hone them into usable gifts. If you pray to your heavenly father according to what you know, not think, but know your gift(s) are, then you shall receive what you seek … when God chooses to answer you. His timing is impeccable, so don’t lose faith. Patience is a trait that is learned by waiting for God to move. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.
Richard Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
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