Praying according to God’s will is not as difficult as we oftentimes believe. Before the opening of the world wide web and google, in order to download information we had to walk or drive to the library and use the Dewey Decimal Classification System to locate the information we needed.
This numerical system is still used today to mark and arrange various non-fictional books. It is an essential tool for students or seekers to understand why books are numbered and how to find the numbers on the shelves, so they can use the library effectively and in a timely manner.
The Bible is somewhat set up like the Dewey system in that it’s divided into books and each passage of text are numbered and grouped by chapters and verses. So if there is something specific you need to refer to or study it makes it that much easier to find.
With that said, the will of God is found in the word of God. The Bible tells us that when we pray to God “if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14). For many Believers who feel in the dark about God’s will, those words send them into doubt and insecurity.
Well, if that’s you I would like to help you first identify what it is that you want God to do and then how to apply the appropriate scripture to that request in prayer.
So, the first thing to do is to differentiate what you’re praying for is it a need, an opportunity, or a desire. Understanding what you asking will help you determine which passage(s) of text line up with your request and if it lines up with the text it will always line up with God’s will.
For example: if you are praying for a need to be meant, Philippians 4:19 confirms, “Philippians 4:19, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”
If it’s an opportunity that you are pondering, I John 4:1 advises, ”Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
If it’s a desire you need filled, Psalm 37:4 instructs us to, “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
These are only a few suggestions that if coupled with prayer will help to bring peace in the in-between. In others words, while you are waiting on God to respond to your prayer request(s). Please recognize that the right scripture for you and your situation may not be what’s cited above, but always trust that (a) Holy Spirit will always lead you to the right passage(s) and (b) He will always send confirmation.
Furthermore, the Bible speaks about the will of God in three categories: (1) God’s sovereign will (Ephesians 1:11; Acts 4:28). (2) God’s moral will (Exodus 20:1-17). (3) God’s permissive will (Acts 14:16). In full disclosure make note that category 1 is not relevant to 1 John 5:14 since we are not privy to the secret counsel of God. But either or both categories #2 or #3 could play a part in what it means to pray according to God’s will.
Let’s be clear, God’s can not be compromised or manipulated. However, the good news for us is that God promises to show us how to pray His will for every situation we face. All we have to do is differentiate what it is that we are requesting, line His word up with that request, pray about it, faithfully wait for His response, and trust Him to do whatever needs to be done according to His will, plan, and purpose!
4GIVEN 