The reason for prayer is not so that our will is done in Heaven, but in order for God’s will to be done on earth.Jesus said, “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 NKJV).
Imagine for a moment that you’re in a little boat not far from a dock. You throw your rope, secure it to the dock and then pull yourself in. It might seem as if you are pulling the dock toward the boat, but in reality it is the other way around. God is like that dock and we draw closer to him through our prayers. As our prayers more nearly reflect his will, He is both able and willing to answer in the affirmative.
“But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” (John 15:7 NLT) We are to stay joined to Jesus and let His teachings become part of us.
The Message puts it this way: “But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.”
We tend to gravitate toward the latter part of the verse, the part about asking whatever we desire. But the last part depends upon the first. For it is when we live in communion with Him, and His Word is at home in our hearts, that we pray as we should for the things that God wants to give.
The Bible tells us, “And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:15 NKJV).
Let us persistently petition God to reveal His will to us through His Word. May we temper each request, saying “Not my will, but Yours, be done.” May we always trust the God who we do know with the future that we do not.
God loves you, and His plan for you is good.
Port Colborne