Scriptural Conflict regarding prayer

[Fez]

"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

No. Thats not it. We cannot know what God's will is. We can pray and believe we will receive yes, but, our will is not God's will, and we don't know how, or when He will answer.

It is about Faith yes, but it's more than that, it's about knowledge and wisdom.

You quote Spurgeon, who I love reading, but Luther also said "Patience is not in the waiting, it is how we wait". We are to wait in faith, and hope (read Romans 5:3 onwards), and sometimes we are to wait years. Remember always, it is about Him, not us, and His timing is perfect in every way.

Read Spurgeons sermon on prayer and watchfullness, it will explain a lot better than I can!

Blessings

[Chr Commando]

Fez is right on. Many times, its better to pray for God's will to be done, than for what we think or would like to see done. And then, have the faith to be patient in waiting on God's time and purpose for when He answers it.

there will be times we have needs, but we must still seek God's help in his Will, not ours, for his answer for our need(s).

God bless!!

[Isaiah 6:8]

I have a big reply, but later after I get some rest, It'll be a separate post but I hope it will help

[sheya joie]

How about asking, 'LORD, what do You want me to pray?'

[HAZARD]

"As many believers will tell you, we don't really know His will, but we should just pray for it, ie Jesus' "not my will but thine" in the garden when asking that the cup be removed if possible."

.

We can know the will of God, and His will, will be done. Jesus saw to this.

Jesus taught us in the prayer, "Our father".

He said, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.

The earth is as far as we know and as it has been revealed in Scripture, is the only place in rebellion against God in the universe. It is the Fathers will that all rebellion be wiped out and only then he will return to the earht to be with man for all eternity.

"For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:" (1 Peter 2:15-21).

Haz.

[jesussaves]

"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!"

M't:6:6: But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

BigBert, one of the most important things I have learned about prayer over the years is that it is a very personal thing between the believer and the Lord. Whenever we enter into our prayer time with Him, whenever we are in His presence, our prayers just flow with fervency. Just knowing our Heavenly Father hears us gives us the confidence to tell Him all that is on our hearts. Having the confidence in His love for us to answer in His way, His time and then trusting Him with the outcome. I am reminded of when Paul asked the Lord three times to remove a thorn in his flesh. Paul never wavered in his belief that the Lord heard and answered all our prayers. However, he did come to realize that sometimes the Lord allows things for our good, even suffering at times, so we have to simply trust the Lord with the answer. Whatever the outcome, His grace is sufficient. He answered Pauls prayer, but in His way. Paul humbly realized that no matter how much or how long he suffered with his infirmity, the Lord's grace could bring him through it all.

Jesus is my Best Friend and I can go to my Abba, Father and sit awhile and ask Him anything in Jesus name and expect an answer.

Even if we may have to say, Lord I believe, help my unbelief, wwe can be assured He hears us and we can go boldly to Him and ask. I think probably my favorite example is that of Abraham when he asked the Lord if there were any righteous people in Sodom whould he spare it. The Lord walked Abraham through the process of asking and receiving. The Lord could not spare that city because of it's wickedness but He did spare Abrahams family. We can believe for anything...but we must trust the Lord with the right answer. He loves us and He will not fail us.