In 1 John 5:15 I read, “[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)
Do you ever wonder if prayer really works? You’re praying about something and Satan whispers to you, “This is a waste of time. Forget it! Who do you think you are? What do you think you’re doing? God isn’t listening. Don’t waste your time.”
Prayer works because God is in control. The basis of all miracles is God’s sovereignty. 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 the things out of my control are not out of God’s. While I may not be able to change a situation, I can pray, and God can change it.
I know exactly what some of you are thinking right now: “If I can pray and ask God to change things, and if God is really in control of everything, why can’t I get everything I pray for?” Good question. Here are three reasons:
God is not a genie. I can’t just put in a prayer and get whatever I want. If every prayer were answered, I'd be a spoiled brat. Do you give your children everything they ask for? I hope not. I know what’s best for them. I can see the bigger picture. If I can see the bigger picture for my kids, how much bigger is the picture God can see?
Sometimes I pray in conflict. If two Christians are praying at the Super Bowl for different teams, who’s God going to answer? Obviously, God can’t answer every prayer at the same time.
But the real reason is God knows what’s best, and I don’t. If I think I do, that is very presumptuous. The Bible tells us, “We are sure that [God] hears us if we ask him for anything that is according to his will” (1 John 5:14 GNT). Look at the phrase “according to his will.” The attitude of my prayer needs to be: “Lord, this is my prayer request, but thy will be done.” That’s what Jesus prayed in Luke 22:42: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (NIV).
In summary, God hears me whenever I ask him; and since I know this is true, I can also know that he gives me what I ask from him. So does prayer really work? Sometimes Satan whispers, “This is a waste of time. Forget it! God isn’t listening. Don’t waste your time.” However prayer works because God is in control. The basis of all miracles is God’s sovereignty. But why does he do one and not another? Because God is in control. I have to trust his wisdom and his goodness. 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 the things out of my control are not out of God’s. While I may not be able to change a situation, I can pray, and God can change it. “If I can pray and ask God to change things, and if God is really in control of everything, why can’t I get everything I pray for?” First God is not a genie. I can’t just put in a prayer and get whatever I want. God can see the bigger picture that I can’t. Sometimes I pray in conflict. God can’t answer every prayer at the same time. But the real reason is God knows what’s best, and I don’t. If I think I do, that is very presumptuous. God hears me if I ask him for anything that is according to his will. The attitude of my prayer needs to be: “Lord, this is my prayer request, but thy will be done.”
My prayers need to be in his will and not selfish things for just myself. Father with the help of your Holy Spirit, help me to filter out selfish things. Also help me to see the bigger picture of what you want to accomplish. I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. These things I ask in your Son Jesus’ name, amen.
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