Praying in God's Will by Mark Driscoll

Pray Like Jesus By Pastor Mark Driscoll

Day 7 of 21 Praying in God's Will Sometimes we wonder how to understand Jesus words "Ask and you will receive," and we're thinking, "Well, I asked, but I didn't receive. What's going on?" What's usually going on is that we are not asking for something that is accordance with God's will. Or, we are asking for something while we personally are not in accordance with God's will. Jesus says in John 16:23-24: "In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." That is asking for things in God's will. What is God's will? Read your Bible. God wants you to grow, so pray that God will grow you. God wants you to pray for your enemies, so you pray for your enemies. God wants you to help the poor, so you pray for the poor. Some of us pray against God's will. God will not answer prayers that are against his will. If, for example, you are praying for a sinful romantic relationship to be blessed, or a sinful business decision to be blessed then you are not praying in God's will. Those are bad prayers. Those are not prayers uttered is in "Jesus' name." It's like asking God to help you sin better. He's not going to say yes to that. Some of us want God to bless relationships we shouldn't be in, to bless businesses that are corrupt or unethical, to condone things we shouldn't be doing. That's not praying in God's will; that's praying in our will and asking God to bless it. Prayer doesn't work that way. In prayer God changes our will to align with his so that he can bless our request that is in accordance with his desires.  What does it mean to pray to the Father in the name of Jesus? It means that we are not asking for things that run contrary to the honor of Jesus or that come from a place of disobedience to Jesus. Before you spend time in prayer today, begin by asking God if your desires and requests are in line with his will for you. Then, only pray for those things that you are convinced are God's will for you.  John 16:23-24 NASB 23 In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.  24 Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.