Scriptural Conflict regarding prayer

[BigBert]

To me, this is the nut cutting, so to speak. If we cannot determine clarity regarding prayer, then we're in a hurt, IMO.

I'm currently in a huge bind in my life, and I sometimes lack the conviction of my prayers being answered. Let me explain, please:

I read a very uplifting piece from the famous 19th century preacher Charles Spurgeon on Mark 11:24, where Jesus says, "

[OneLight]

We can ask for all that God has for us and expect to receive it according to his word. Wisdom, love, patience, faith, joy, peace, , kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, the gifts of the Holy Spirit as an example. All designed to create us in His image. Yet, His words tell us not to worry about anything pertaining to this life, not food, clothes, money, housing or the like. He provides as we walk in Him, directing us in every step if we, with our whole heart, trust in the Lord. He will open doors He wants us to walk through and close doors that He does not. It all depends on if you are willing to wait on Him or if you are going to step out in "faith" and hope that He grants you His blessings.

[MorningGlory]

We can ask for all that God has for us and expect to receive it according to his word. Wisdom, love, patience, faith, joy, peace, , kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, the gifts of the Holy Spirit as an example. All designed to create us in His image. Yet, His words tell us not to worry about anything pertaining to this life, not food, clothes, money, housing or the like. He provides as we walk in Him, directing us in every step if we, with our whole heart, trust in the Lord. He will open doors He wants us to walk through and close doors that He does not. It all depends on if you are willing to wait on Him or if you are going to step out in "faith" and hope that He grants you His blessings.

[Ascot Preston]

I then come across 1 John 5:14, which indicates that He'll hear us IF we pray "according to His will."

The fact is, we don't always know His will--frequently, that may even be the case. How often do you hear someone's prayer for healing not being answered (despite Jesus healing without fail while on earth) and the response be "well, though we don't understand it, maybe God didn't want that person to be healed?" Even if we maintain the lack of healing was more due to a lack of faith or sin in the praying believer's life, we still know that godly men can disagree on all sorts of important doctrine, so how are we to really have confidence we're praying something that's God's will?

What it boils down to is great difficulty in feeling true confidence in praying anything specific, despite the fact that's the very thing Jesus (not just in Mark 11:24) says for us to do!

As a fact...we do know Gods will.

Mat 6:33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

If we do this then:

Rom 8:28 And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose.

Hence, if our prayers are not answered then we need to have a good look at ourselves.

If we can not discern anything that has come between us and our Lord, then we must trust that our heavenly father

has our welfare in mind by not answering our prayer in the way we expect it to be answered. He has something better planned for us.

2Co 12:7 And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch.

2Co 12:8 Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

2Co 12:9 And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2Co 12:10 Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

I pray that these thoughts will strengthen your faith in our Father.

Blessings

[BigBert]

We can ask for all that God has for us and expect to receive it according to his word. Wisdom, love, patience, faith, joy, peace, , kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, the gifts of the Holy Spirit as an example. All designed to create us in His image. Yet, His words tell us not to worry about anything pertaining to this life, not food, clothes, money, housing or the like. He provides as we walk in Him, directing us in every step if we, with our whole heart, trust in the Lord. He will open doors He wants us to walk through and close doors that He does not. It all depends on if you are willing to wait on Him or if you are going to step out in "faith" and hope that He grants you His blessings.

Thanks, One Light. I'm not sure if that answered my request in the sense of praying for something specifically, but maybe it did. They're good thoughts either way, and I will dwell on them.

[BigBert]

Thanks, Ascot. Not sure they affirmed Jesus' teachings in Mark 11:24, but I appreciate your efforts a lot.

[Nly10d1]

"then how can we maintain such confidence when 1 John 5:14 gives the huge caveat that our prayer must be God's will?"

Faith!

Edited February 26, 2010 by Nly10d1

[BigBert]

"then how can we maintain such confidence when 1 John 5:14 gives the huge caveat that our prayer must be God's will?"

Faith!

Hi; are you saying if we have faith, then our prayer is assured to be aligned with what God's will is? Thanks

[Chr Commando]

Remember what Jesus said about the Roman centurian who came and told Christ about his servant being very sick, as unto death, and asked Jesus to heal him?

Jesus told the Centurion to lead the way to his home. The Centurion spoke i believe his home was not worthy of Christ to enter it, but if Jesus would just say the word, his Servant would be healed.

Jesus declared that He had not seen such great a faith. That the Centurion's Servant was healed according to this man's faith.

But, lets keep in mind, God shows, when Christ was on earth, some miracles seen, were for true restorations, healings etc, while other were to show breaking of generational curses, other for the unrighteously living- (sins) of a person and for "signs" to prove who Christ was.

As for us, jesus declared once we recieved the Holy Ghost and Power, we would be able to do all things he had, plus more. But... we are not Jesus- (God in the flesh). Thus... it will be according to God's will, when and if its answered, according to his timing and purpose for all things on this earth.

So..., it may have nothing to do with faith at all except for this- "Count it all joy, when ye fall unto diverse temptations, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye be found perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

God Bless!!

[7thseal]

I'm currently in a huge bind in my life,

Just as I start wanting to dial in my prayer (and not talking about wanting the latest top end sports car, but rather enough money to meet my financial obligations due to unemployment and not having taken on excessive debt), I then come across 1 John 5:14, which indicates that He'll hear us IF we pray "according to His will."

Have you asked the Lord, what is His will for you concerning your current situation? The reason I ask is that often its only until we're in a 'huge bind' that we're more willing to listen as to what he desires of us in our personal relationship with him. And what he has for each of us may vary from one person to the next, but it will be according to His will. God allows us to get into tough spots if needed in order to get our attention so that we'll listen for the direction he would have us to walk according to leadership of the Holy Spirit. Sadly for me, thats often what it takes to get my attention. In my experience, I find that God not only wants to glorify Himself by meeting our needs but also drawing us into a closer relationship with Him while responding to our need.

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Is the Holy Spirit interceding on our behalf here, for both our troubles and God's desire for us (personally) as a saint? Because in the next verse it reads.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.