Answered Prayer

Daily Reading: 1 John 5

Scripture Focus: And this is the confidence that we have toward 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 that we have asked of him. (1 John 5.14-15)

Devotional Thought: Do you have confidence when you pray?  You can:  “If we ask anything according to his will… we have the requests that we have asked of him.”  Does that mean I can get anything I want from God as long as I say “according to your will”?  Of course not.

We all know that there have been times that we have earnestly prayed things that are not according to his will.  How could we explain two Christians praying for opposite things: “Lord, send snow today so that we can have a white Christmas for our family.”  “Lord, please keep it from snowing today so that my kids have a safe trip home.”  When we are sensitive to God, he will guide us to pray what really needs to be prayed: “Lord, if it snows today, then keep my kids safe as they travel through it.  And, though I may be nervous about the kids, I just want to say thank you in advance for giving us a white Christmas!”

Also, he interprets our prayers.  Not all prayers that are uttered are perfectly worded and perfectly understood by the pray-er.  God knows our hearts, and he knows so much more about our situations than we do.  When we pray, we often lack key information that would help us pray as we ought.  His understanding and insight are perfect.  So, when our prayers miss the mark, he interprets our hearts and the needs represented. 

He prays in us.  There are times when we truly don’t even know what or how to pray in a given situation.  It is in times such as that that the Holy Spirit prays in us “with groans that words cannot express.” 

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that we have no better prayer partner than you!  The Holy Spirit is beside us and in us, leading our prayers and empowering them according to your will.  Help us to be in tune with your Spirit.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 130.1-4

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!

2 O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.