By: Kevin Townsend
The Bible is overflowing on the subject of prayer. In its pages we are taught and shown when to pray (Ps 5:1-3; Ps 88:13; Ps 143:8; Isa 33:2; Ps 88:1; Ps 55:17; Dan 6:10; Gen 24:63; Matt 6:6), how often to pray (1Thess 5:17), what to pray about, the proper repetition and length of our prayers, including things that should be excluded from our prayers e.g., vain repetitions, (Luke 6:12; Matt 6:7; Matt 23:14; Mark 12:40; Eccl 5:2), the power of prayer (Jas 5:16-18), the proper and improper manner of prayer (Heb 4:16), the emotion that should accompany our prayers (Ezra 10:1), and the list goes on. One thing that we often overlook is the proper application of wisdom regarding our prayers. God has clearly given us wide latitude in prayer. Verses like: 1Pet 5:7 KJV ”(7) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” and “Phil 4:6 KJV “(6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” allow and direct us to bring any petition before the throne of grace. With this latitude also comes the understanding that Jehovah has the authority and right to answer our prayers in His way. This can include giving us an answer to our prayer of “Yes” (2Chr 14:9-12), “No” (Deut 3:23-27; Deut 23:5; Josh 24:10), or a delayed answer i.e., “Later”(Ps 22:1-2; Ps 40:1; Ps 80:4; Ps 88:14; Jer 42:2, 7; Hab 1:2; Luke 18:7). Jehovah sometimes answers prayer by providing a totally different answer to the prayer than the one that was requested (1Kgs 3:7-14; Deut 3:23-27; Ps 106:14-15; 2Cor 12:8-9). He has even, in some cases, told men to quit praying words and get to work with action (Exodus 14:15; Josh 7:10). Because He is omniscient and can see every possible outcome of His answer to our prayers, our Father has the ability to provide the perfect answer to our prayers according to His holy will. God is our Father in truth. Like any earthly father, and even more so because He is God and a perfect heavenly Father, He will not grant requests that are harmful to His children. Jesus confirms this fact: Luke 11:11-13 KJV “(11) If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? (12) Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? (13) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Because of His perfection, Jehovah moderates most of our requests. He gives answers that only a good and perfect Father would give. To the faithful who trust Jehovah, this is a great comfort. But, human beings in general want what they want. We do not like any other answer than the “Yes” that we desire. But, Jehovah does not always give the answer we desire. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a petition that we could pray to Jehovah where we would know in advance and be guaranteed of getting a “Yes” answer from Him? Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a petition that we could pray to Jehovah where we would know that we would receive exactly what we prayed to receive? There is just such a prayer authorized and described in Scripture. 1st John 5:14-15 KJV (14) And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: (15) And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. When we pray for things that are according to God’s will we absolutely receive them, guaranteed! Now the question might arise, “Well, how do I know what is according to God’s will?” The Bible also answers that question: 1st Cor 2:16 KJV “(16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” We have the mind of Christ in the Scriptures that He, through the Holy Spirit, has left for us. In the Bible, we can see things that we can know, with certainty, that God will never refuse us if we ask. Let me give you an example of this: Luke 17:5 KJV “(5) And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.” Although in this specific case the three words spoken by the apostles was not a prayer if we were to sincerely use those words in prayer to Jehovah today, it would be an example of a prayer according to God’s will. To further support this, we only need look to: 1st Pet 2:2 KJV “(2) As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” Spiritual growth of Christian is ALWAYS within God’s will. In fact, one of the purposes of the church is to aid in the spiritual growth of all members of the body. If you were to ask God for any aspect of spiritual growth, He would provide it for you. With any guaranteed offer there is always a disclaimer, and I shall provide one now. Spiritual growth is not a magic or miraculous event where God zaps you with the area of growth you have prayerfully requested. Growth takes effort and often is difficult, sometimes very difficult. If you want to get smarter, you study. If you want to get stronger, you sweat, strain, and struggle to lift heavier weights. If you want to increase your skill, you spend long hours practicing mastering the skill. Spiritual growth is no different. Whatever area(s) of spiritual improvement you pray for will require diligent, concentrated effort on your part. God has the power and desire to providentially bless you in response to your prayer. He will bless you if your request comes from the heart and you are willing to put in the diligent effort needed. It is important to note that many, if not most, areas of spiritual improvement cannot be completed within a short, specified, time period. Spiritual improvement is not measured in days, weeks, months, or even years but in lifetimes. Do not be discouraged if you do not gain 20 years of spiritual maturity within six months. When you pray, remember the admonition of Scripture: Jas 1:5-8 KJV “(5) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (6) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (7) For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. (8) A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” May God bless your Christian walk.