Praying To God Effectively On His Terms

When we are praying to God, does He hear us? Maybe? Perhaps? Only if we’re good?

1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV)

¹⁴ Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. ¹⁵ 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 5:13-15 (MSG)

^13-15 My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that He is listening. And if we’re confident that He is listening, we know that what we’ve asked for is as good as ours.

An important aspect when we pray is that we keep and hold tight to God’s view of our prayers.

There are so many perspectives on prayer, many of which, are NOT confirmed by The Bible. We say things like “if it’s your will” or “help us because you are sovereign and can do anything,” or we wait until the midnight hour to say, “OH Lord Please Please help me! I need a miracle!”

No doubt we have all been in such situations, as they are a by-product of living in a spiritually bankrupt world.

Listen now, God is not deaf, He doesn’t need a hearing aid, He doesn’t get joy out of your suffering either! Our frustration in not having our prayers answered is usually the result of ignorance on our part. “His Will” has brought great controversy and has become the subject of many books, and sermons.

His “Will” can be substituted for His “Word.” So, now it becomes crystal clear how we need to pray or rather the source of everything we pray for has to line up with His incorruptible, indestructible Word of God! His Word is His Will, it is not what our desire might be for a situation.

The first criteria for answered prayer is: where are you positioned? Do you have confidence in God’s ability? Do you believe and trust what He says? The answer cannot be maybe, or perhaps. Or, only if I’ve been a good boy or girl. Those of us who call Him Lord have been given the gift of righteousness (Romans 5:17). We have a good position with God and it is NOT subject to our reasoning, nor the devil’s or the world’s for that matter.

Lift up your eyes to heaven in confidence, trust, and have the boldness that God will meet ALL your needs that line up with His word!

The Lost are in His Word; healing is in His Word; sound relationships are in His Word; prosperity is in His Word; health is in His Word; wisdom is in His Word; grace for today is in His Word; love is in His Word; forgiveness is in His Word, and that is not even the entire list.

It’s so important to know what is in the Word! Praying on a situation without knowing what God’s Word says about your situation is like shooting in the dark. The Bible says that we are to pray effectively (James 5:16) and that comes with obedience in reading the Word for yourself!

So dive into God’s Word and enjoy answered prayer, instead of frustrated prayer.

Have a Blessed Day!

Loving God & His People
Pastor Steven Pereira

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