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Friday, April 5, 2019

Learning How To Change Circumstances and Relationships through Prayer

In review of 1 John 5:15 it says, “[God] hears us whenever we ask him; and since we know this is true, we know also that he gives us what we ask from him” (GNT).

Today’s verse comes from 1 John 5:13-15. John tells me that he has written what’s in his letter to me who believes in the name of the Son of God, so that I may know you have eternal life. And I can be confident that he hears me whenever I ask for anything that pleases him (is in his will). And since I know he hears me when I make my requests, I can also know that he will give me what I ask for.

The emphasis here is on what pleases him, God's will, not mine. When I communicate with God, I don't demand what I want; rather I discuss with him what he wants for me. If and when I align my prayers to his will, he will listen; and I can be certain that if he listens, he will give me a definite answer. Therefore I should pray with confidence.

Does prayer really work? There can be times when I’m praying about something and Satan whispers to me, “Who do you think you are? What do you think you’re doing? God is not listening. Don’t waste your time. Forget it!”

Prayer works because God is in control. The basis of all miracles is God’s sovereignty. So why does he do one and not another? Because God is in control. I have to trust his wisdom and his goodness.

Ephesians 3:20 says, “God . . . is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes” (TLB).

Prayer can do whatever God can do. His resources are available to me. Twenty times in the New Testament it says, “Ask.” It’s encouraging to know that things out of my control are not out of God’s control. I may not be able to change a situation, but I can pray and God can change it.

That includes changing a relationship from bad to good, and the quickest way to see that change is to start thanking God for people you are having difficulty getting along with.

Praying for them will change my attitude, and it will change them. Positive praying is much more powerful than positive thinking. People may resist my help, spurn my appeals, and reject my suggestions, but they are powerless against my prayers.

What do I pray? The more specific I am in prayer, the more specific the answer will be.

In Philippians 1:9-11, Paul spells out exactly what he’s praying for people. “This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God” (NIV).

Bottom Line:
He hears us when we make requests, we also know that he will give what we ask for.

What this means to me:
He hears me when I make requests, and I know that he will give me what I ask for when it's in his will, not my own selfish desires.

Philippians 1 offers four specific ways I can pray for people today. As I practice this habit, see how it changes my attitude toward others—and how it changes them.

1), Abound in love: Pray that they will grow in love.
2). Discern what is best: Pray that they make wise choices.
3). Be pure and blameless: Pray that they will do the right thing.
4). Filled with the fruit of righteousness: Pray that they will live for God’s glory.

In summary, I can be confident that he hears me whenever I ask for anything that pleases him and is in his will. Since I know he hears me, I can also know that he will give me what I ask for. When I pray, I shouldn't demand what I want, rather I should discuss with him what he wants for me. Prayer works because God is in control. I have to trust his wisdom and goodness to do what he knows is best. It's encouraging to know that things that are out of my control are not out of God's control. I may not be able to change a situation, but I can pray and God can change it. If I'm having difficulty in a relationship, I can start thanking God for these people. Praying for them will change my attitude, and it will change them. Positive prayer is much more powerful than positive thinking. Also when I pray, the more specific I am in my request, the more specific he will be in his answer. There are four specific ways I can pray for others today. I can pray that they will grow in love, that they will make wise choices, that they will do the right thing and that they will live for God's glory.

Father, I thank you for your Word and truths that help guide me into the person that you want me to be. Today you have reminded me to be in your will and not demand what I want. My time with you should be more of a discussion on what you want for me. Also that I need to pray specifically and to learn to pray for those I have difficulty with to help change my attitude toward them. Today I pray Father for these things along with your wisdom and guidance in how to handle the tasks in front of me, in leading my team and my interaction with others. I could use your help in how I respond to the consistently mounting workload and my attitude toward others in how it can be accomplished. I need to look at how I should find ways to help them and not push them off. These things I pray and ask for in Jesus name, amen!

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