Lesson Three: The Dimensions to Follow - Dimension No. 2, Praying According to God’s Will

This dimension of the prayer life sometimes makes Christians feel limited in the things they could ask from God. “Why do I have to conform to God’s will? What if what I want is not God’s will?”

Let us share some scenarios and think about your response.

Fred is attracted to a sweet young lady named Esther. He wants to pursue a serious relationship with her, but Esther doesn’t seem interested. Fred started to pray that Esther would grow to like him, too. After three months of praying without seeing any change in Esther’s feelings towards him, he became doubtful whether God hears him or even cares about his desires. He then stopped praying for Esther. He was not sure anymore if praying made a difference. His personal prayer life was also affected. He gradually lost interest in telling God about his needs and desires. If you were Fred’s friend, how would you help him regain his confidence in a prayer-answering God?

Fred’s close friend, Joe, heard about Fred’s problem. He shared with him the passage found in I John 5:14,15, and told him about the importance of praying according to God’s will. Fred protested, “Why does God insist that we pray according to His will?” Doesn’t He love us enough to give us what will make us happy? If God is so strict that I always have to ask according to His will, then I am not sure if I will get anything from Him!” If you were Joe, how would you help Fred appreciate praying according to God’s will? Why is it important to pray according to God’s will according to Romans 8:32 and James 1:17?

This struggle about having to conform to God’s will is only true when we do not have a clear vision of His character – His wisdom, love, and goodness. The Scripture says that God has already given us the best gift He could ever give – His only begotten Son, Jesus. Will He withhold from us things of lesser value? (Read from Romans 8:32.) The child of God is also assured that the Father in heaven is the giver of all good and perfect gifts. (Read James 1:17.)

Memory Verse 3B: 1 John 5:14,15

“And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”