Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss…(James 4:3)
Although Jesus told us to ask and we shall receive (Matthew 7), the opening Scripture makes it clear that we can go off target in our asking. And this one thing would account for many unanswered prayers. The key to hitting the mark when we ask is given in John 15:7: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”. If the Word of God abides in you, you will be guided in your asking. Your desires will begin to conform to the will of God, and your prayers will not be said amiss.
A good place to start praying the will of God is to determine to pray the very things God instructs us to pray for. After all, it is the will of God alone that is always good, acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1-2), and to pray His Will is to be fully certain to see it come to pass if you believe. It’ll thus be wise to take heed to those prayer points outlined in Scripture for us. Let us discuss some of them.
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into his harvest (Matthew 9:38). It is not the souls needing salvation that are lacking, for the Scriptures assert that the fields are already white for harvest; they’ve been white since the days Jesus walked the earth (John 4:35). The harvest is plentiful, but it is the workers that are few (Matthew 9:37). Therefore, Jesus instructs us pray the Father to send more workers to preach the gospel so that men and women will be saved. This includes you and I, for we are His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). Make it a point to pray this always, since it’s dear to God’s heart and know that you are part of the workers for whom you are praying.
Also, pray for all men, keeping in mind kings/presidents and all those in authority (1Timothy 2:2). The Bible gives this as key to living a peaceful and quite life in all godliness and dignity. Peaceful marches and protests have their place, but we should spend as much time and even more praying for our leaders and calling forth the peace of God over our land. If all we know to do is to get into the blame game while we neglect our basic command to pray, then we are as much of the problem as those we are blaming. Many of the unnecessary happenings that has befallen many a people group would have been prevented if men and women stood up to pray. Neglect not to pray for all people too, for God desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1Timothy 2:3).
Pray for the peace and welfare of the nation you are living in, be it your native country or not (Jeremiah 29:7). For the Israelites that were exiled to Babylon, it would have been the easiest thing for them to curse Babylon its root. But God had determined for them to live there 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11), and so gave them His Word “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7). It will be foolish to seek the downfall of the country you are living in because your favourite political party was not elected, or your preferred polices were not implemented. The downfall of that country spells your doom too. Seek its good. Seek the peace and welfare of the people living in it, and you shall be seeking your own good.
To be continued…
Kwadwo Omari
© 2014
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Thanks Reggie