How To Pray Effectively: Continue Chapter Three - Praying According To The Will Of God: By Chris Oyakilome

Another passage of Scripture that talks about ‘petition’ is 1 John 5:I4–15:

“And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

Since praying according to the will of God is the key ingredient for success in the prayer of petition, it is important for us to understand exactly what it means to “ask according to God’s will.”

Many Christians have assumed, mostly as a result of their misconception of the Scriptures, that the reason they didn’t receive answers to their prayers was because such prayers weren’t in line with God’s Will for them. They assume God didn’t want them to have what they were asking for. But this is an erroneous interpretation of God’s Word in the context of prayer. Let’s look at the Scripture again:

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (1 John 5:14-15).

Those who hold that mistaken notion that their prayers weren’t answered because they didn’t pray according to God’s will fail to understand that the Holy Spirit’s emphasis in this scripture isn’t primarily the consistency of their request with God’s will, but their exclusive privilege of having a hearing with God.

Furthermore, when He tells us to ask according to God’s will, He isn’t talking about “WHAT” we ask for, but “HOW” we ask for it. In other words, the way and manner we present our petitions ought to be consistent with God’s stipulated pattern. It’s important to know, therefore, how to ask the Father according to His will for asking.

“And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full…At that day ye shall ask in my name…” (John 16:23-24, 26).

Jesus, at this instance, introduced the exclusive deal—the new, acceptable way of asking from God. When you make requests to the Father in Jesus’ Name, you’re actually functioning in Jesus’ stead. It’s as though Jesus were the one making that request.

You know, some religious folks consider praying directly to the Father a sacrilege; they’d rather resort to intermediaries such as Mary, or the Apostles, or some “saint.” Some others think the best they can attain to is commune with Jesus, who will then intercede for them with God. But that’s exactly what Jesus said He won’t do:

“In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I

came forth from God” (John 16:26-27).

The Father doesn’t need anyone to plead with Him before He does something for you or grants your request. He loves you unconditionally! And all He wants is for you to ask according to His will—in the Name of Jesus—and it’s yours. His will for asking therefore is in the Name of Jesus.

(For further teaching on praying in the Name of Jesus, get my book titled Praying The Right Way.)