“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)

The above verse is about praying according to God’s will. You do that by looking God’s Word to find out what it says about w. There are many passages of scripture on that topic. Here are just a few.

God’s will is for you to be thankful

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thess. 5:18 ESV)

God’s will is for you to be pure

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.” (1 Thess. 4:3 ESV)

God's will is for you to be doing good

“For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.” (1 Peter 2:15 ESV)

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what  does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 ESV)

God’s will is for you to walk wisely

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.” (Eph. 5:15-20 ESV) 

God’s will is that all people will be saved

“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:3-4 ESV)

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” (Psalm 143:8 NIV)

What is love?

·      God is love - “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (1 John 4:16 NIV)

·      Attributes of love - “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Cor. 13-4-5 NIV)

The greatest love

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13 NIV)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 KJV)

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” (1 John 3:1 NIV)

Therefore

·      Bear with one another in love - “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Eph. 4:2 NIV) 

·      Love others because He loves you - “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 5:19 NIV)

·      Be established in love - “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love.” (Eph. 3:16 NIV)

·      Be devoted in love -  “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Rom. 12:10 NIV)

What they said about God’s love

“Though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not” – C.S. Lewis

“The nature of God’s love is unchangeable. Ours alternates all to readily. If it is our habit to love God with our own affection, we shall turn cold towards Him whenever we are unhappy.” – Watchman Nee 

“When the time comes for you to die, you need not be afraid, because death cannot separate you from God’s love.” – Charles Spurgeon

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Tim. 2:1-2 NIV)

People behaving badly

It has been discouraging to watch the televised riots these days and observe the vitriol coming from unhappy people of political opinion behaving badly. A follower of Christ, however, should not be a party to this kind of behavior, and stir up conflict, but should instead pray for the leadership, no matter who they are. “A perverse person stirs up conflict.” (Prov. 16:28 NIV)

How should followers of Christ behave? 

“If my my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:14 NIV)

Show respect to everyone even if you disagree with them 

“Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” (1 Peter 2:17 NIV)

Seek peace by praying to the Lord for it

“Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7 NIV)

God can change hearts

“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.” (Prov. 21:1 NIV) 

“He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he makes them wander in a trackless waste. They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.” (Job 12:23-25 NIV)

“To get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees." - Billy Graham

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” (Col. 4:2 NIV)

Many years ago, when I was a fairly new follower of Christ, someone invited me to the front of a meeting and asked me to pray. I had never done that before! My mind suddenly went blank. I stood there for what seemed like an eternity and couldn't think what to say. I eventually mumbled a very short something or other and quickly returned to my seat.

It’s okay to ask for help

When we wonder about prayer, it should be reassuring to know that even a disciple of Jesus asked Him for instructions about how to pray.

“Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples’” (Luke 11:1 NIV)

Jesus taught about prayer

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don't be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 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.” (Matt. 6:5-13 NLT)

What others have said about prayer

“Prayer is not a hard requirement – it is the natural duty of a creature to its creator, the simplest homage that human need can pay to divine liberality.” – Charles Spurgeon

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing." - Martin Luther

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Phil. 2:13 NIV)

God works through people to get things done

He used Moses to deliver the Hebrew children from bondage. He used Noah to deliver His people and creatures from the great flood. He used Esther to save the Jewish people from destruction. And many more examples throughout the Bible.

The great commission

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20 NIV)

Be doers for God

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (James 1:22-25 ESV)

Yes, this means you!

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12 ESV)

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10 ESV)

“For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” (Col. 1:29 ESV)

Therefore

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” (Col. 3:23 NIV)

“God isn't looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him" — Hudson Taylor

“When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses!! Moses!” And Moses said, ‘Here I am.’” (Ex. 3:4 NIV)

The world is filled with bushes of all kinds, but this one stood out from the others because God was in it. The burning bush continued to be on fire without being consumed by the flames. (Ex. 3:2).

When God is in a human life, that person can become “on fire for God”, so to speak.

Could it be you?

God is looking for anyone willing to commit to Him.

“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." (2 Chron. 16:9 NIV)

“For God does not show favoritism.” (Rom. 2:11 NIV) 

“Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism.” (Acts 10:34 NIV).

Therefore

“Never let the fire in your heart go out. Keep it alive. Serve the Lord. When you hope, be joyful. When you suffer, be patient. When you pray, be faithful. Share with God's people who are in need. Welcome others into your homes.” (Rom. 12:11-13 NIRV)

“Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn.” - Charles Wesley

“I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.” (Psalm 17:6 NIV)

Keep your prayers simple, and don't babble

If you want clear answers you can't be fuzzy with your requests.

When you pray, speak plainly and clearly to God. 

“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.” (Matt. 6:7 NIV)

Present your requests to God in every situation

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Phil. 4:6 NIV)

Watch and pray

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matt. 26:41 NIV)

"Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?" - Corrie ten Boom

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Luke 6:45 NIV)

Watch what you put into your mind

Your brain is like a computer and is programmed by what you feed into it. You program your brain by choosing what to look at and listen to, which influences your thinking. This includes the TV shows and movies you watch, the magazines and books you read, the content of your social media, and even the people you choose to socialize with. All this will affect your thinking and what you do.

You must constantly guard your heart from destructive input!

• Watch what you allow yourself to think about

“For as he thinks within himself, so he is.” (Prov. 23:7 NASB)

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Prov. 4:23 NIV)

• Watch what you say

Your mouth is the speaker for your heart. Your words can only reflect what your brain is already thinking about. If your thoughts are evil, out of your mouth will come evil words. If your thoughts are good, then good words will come out. You cannot behave inconsistently with your thoughts!

“For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Luke 6:45 NIV)

• Make corrections

When you catch yourself saying the wrong kind of things, stop and make corrections with the Word of God as your guide and adjustment tool.

“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” (Psalm 141:3 ESV)

“Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” (Prov. 21:23 ESV)

“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” (Luke 17:15-19 NIV)

Saying thank you!

I heard a story about a woman who had searched for, found, and thanked the many who had responded to a horrific accident she had been in ten years before. What was amazing to see was the reaction she received from those she thanked. Many of them were moved to tears. One of them said they had never been thanked before! Can you imagine that? In all those years they must have helped a great number of people in crisis, yet not one had bothered to go back and thank them!

Only one in ten thanked Jesus

Jesus had healed ten lepers but only one came back to thank Him! Jesus noticed and said, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”  (Luke 17: 18-19 NIV)

A promise

There is a hidden promise (blessing) in the passage at the top of the page you may have missed. Notice that the one leper who went back to thank Jesus received something extra from Him; Jesus said, “Thy faith hath made thee whole.” Scholars have noted that while the other nine lepers received healing from their leprosy, only the tenth leper, who expressed praise, was made "whole."

God’s will is for you to thankful in all circumstances

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5:18 NIV)

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Col. 3:17 NIV)

Therefore

“But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.” (Psalms 13:5-6)