Bold In Christ Ministries

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me Jeremiah 29:13 NLT

Prayer is coming in communion with God. When we pray for God’s will we are not only partnering with God but we are exercising our Faith. What is God’s will? Let’s first have a look at what Jesus says about God’s will.
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 

For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:38-40 NIV.

God’s will is for his kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven, for none to perish, but for all to come to repentance and have faith in Jesus Christ of whom there is eternal life. For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him John 17:2 NLT.

With this in mind, what is God’s will for believers, and with what mindset, attitude and heart posture does one approach God’s presence? Why should we Pray for God’s will to be done? Firstly, God desires believers to have a relationship with him through Jesus

Christ and to know his person.

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need Matthew 6:33 NLT. 

Secondly, Praying to God requires faith, without faith no one prays. When believers pray to God it is through His son Jesus Christ. For only through him can one pray to the Father. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me John 14:6 KJV. 

A relationship with Jesus is a relationship with God. The Father and I are one.” John 10:30 NLT. Knowing that Jesus and the Father are one, believers ought to have faith in him as God. He is the mediator between God and man. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus 1 Timothy 2:5.

Knowing this, believers ought to make their requests in faith each time they approach God’s throne in confidence, fully assured of their authority in Christ. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need Hebrews 4:16. J

Jesus tells us that if we ask anything in his name we shall receive it, but we have to know that this requires faith and a right motivation for doing God’s will.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! John 14:12-14.

Paul says in Romans 1:9 God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son. Most of the time, believers come with agendas before God and end up disappointed when things don’t go as one would like them to. If only our hearts would be aligned to His word and desire to know His will. Then whatever flows from our hearts in prayer, will be in accordance with His will for us and those around us. Often, believers do not pray for their daily bread, but rather what would give them a sense of security. The problem is, these kinds of prayers are mostly not aligned with God’s will.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 NLT says I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.

Believer’s have a role to play for the kingdom of God here on earth and it’s not voluntary to seek God’s will and to ask God in prayer for his will to be done. Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples John 8:31 CSB. It is important to obey the teachings of Jesus. Otherwise, believers will not be able to walk in God’s will and bear fruit for his glory. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commands John 14:15 CSB.

When you obey God you can find confidence in asking for anything in prayer. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us 1 John 5:14 NIV . As Children of God, believers have to walk in faith knowing God is a faithful Father and he does not forsake his own. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus Philippians 4:19 NLT. So anything that removes dependency from God, and puts it on self or the flesh becomes a hindrance to God’s will in the lives of believers. For example, In the book of Exodus. The Israelites were fed with manna daily. God provided their needs and yet they still complained and grumbled because they felt what they had in Egypt was better.

Jesus taught his disciples the right posture to approach prayer in the book of Matthew 6:9-13 NLT Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. Praying God’s will should be a key part of a believer’s life, not a part time activity. In the book of Daniel, we see a man by the name of Daniel, who had his routine time to pray to God and he had maintained this routine even when there was a decree against praying to God. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before Daniel 6:10 NIV. Believers have to consistently, persistently and fervently keep on praying to God. Knowing that Faith is a spiritual muscle that must be exercised through prayer. The Bible says in Matthew 7:7-8 NLT “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV. When believers offer prayers to God, it should always be in spirit and truth with all thanksgiving, praise, adoration, intercession and supplication. 1 Timothy 2:8 NIV says Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. Believers have to pray in faith during prayer and after. Prayers should never be too self focused, but outwardly from self to others. What really matters is the posture of prayer. The heart posture of the believer while asking does matter to God.

God is not interested in superficial worship, religion and sacrifices. God is interested in the pureness of our hearts. He is interested in those who seek him to know him in spirit and truth. Jesus is a perfect example of selflessness. During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission Hebrews 5:7 NIV . When believers are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and renewed in their thinking, believers become fertile ground for good works. This renewed mindset produces good fruits through faith in Jesus Christ. This can only happen when believers spend their time in prayer, fasting and bible reading to truly know God’s will and God’s heart. 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.