Pray in the Will of God

The question before us is "Why does God not answer our prayers?"  There are

some prayers that God cannot or will not answer.

The last time we met, we discovered that God cannot answer a prayer we

never offer up to Him.

In I John  5:13 the apostle writes, "These things have I written unto you

that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have

eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

Following that blessed assurance of salvation he assures us of confidence in

prayer. "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any

thing according to His will, He heareth us." (I John 5:14)  Notice the

little word, "if" in that verse.  For God to answer our prayers, which He

desires to do, our prayers must be in the will of God.

Someone has correctly said, "Prayer is not asking God for what I want.  It

is asking God for what He wants."  In the Model Prayer we find these words

as an example of how we are to pray: "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in

earth, as it is in heaven." (Matt. 6:10) 

Jesus knew He was going to the cross.  He was well aware of the human

suffering He would endure.  On the evening before the crucifixion, while in

the Garden of Gethsemane   with His disciples Jesus prayed, "O my Father, if

this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."

(Matt. 26:42)  It was the Father's will that the Son of God go to Calvary to

pay our sin debt. 

For God to answer your prayers make sure you are praying in the will of God.