1 John 5:14, New International Version

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

One of the things I have learned about prayer as a Christian is this: prayer is not for us to change the will of God, but for us to align ourselves with His will. Faith fully knows that the Lord knows better, that He is good, and that He loves us. If the god we believed in was not all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present, then we would be doomed to believe and follow him! Thankfully, this is not Jesus, nor our Father who is in heaven. He created all things from nothing, and He sustains all things even when the world is falling. Therefore, we should trust Him with all our heart, mind, and soul. We should trust Him with every area of our lives. We should trust Him with what the future holds.

I have heard many people talk about, and still be fascinated by, the work of prayer. The sadness is that they often focus on how to pray instead of the One who listens and responds to our prayers. The praise they give is to those who prayed and not to the One who responded. The pride they mention is that they are the ones who prayed, how they prayed, or how many people prayed.

You may ask, “Does God say He listens to the cry of the righteous?” So, let me ask you this: were David and Samuel doing what was right in the eyes of God? According to what is recorded in the Bible, they were. But don’t you see that there were times when David and Samuel grieved and prayed, yet God did not change His will? Why? Because there is no one righteous. We are clothed in righteousness because of Jesus, and Jesus only does what He sees the Father doing. The will of God is what He follows. (Psalm 34:17, 2 Samuel 12; 1 Samuel 16; Romans 3:10; John 5:19)

If we can recognize that the power of prayer is not in us who pray, but in Him who responds, then we should do just as the Lord instructed:

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NLT)

This is not an instruction that applies only to a nation, but an attitude that should be present in each and every prayer we pray. We should humble ourselves, pray, seek the Lord’s face, and turn from any wicked way. Prayer needs faith, and faith is an action. (Mark 11:24, James 2:17) It is the action of doing what is right with God. Hannah and Abraham did not just pray with their lips; they dedicated themselves and their lives to the prayers they made, and God responded (1 Samuel 1; Genesis 11-25). Remember, God knows even before you pray (Psalm 139:4). There is no formula, pattern, or number of prayers that can manipulate God’s will. He responds because He sees your heart and He loves you. Yet He has His will, His timing, and His way. Let’s sink into this verse, and may the Holy Spirit guide you to understanding:

“And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].” (Romans 12:2, AMP)