TOPIC: ASKING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL
Bible Reading: 1 Kings 3-5; Luke 23:1-26
Memory verse: “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great people?” 1 Kings 3:9 (KJV)
Prayer is a communication between man and God where man agrees with God’s word and takes this agreement to Him and He in turn replies with answers based on the word He has given. The beauty of prayer is the fact that God answers. If there were no answers to prayers many would have stopped praying.
There are others who do not pray because they do not know what to say in prayer. For you to have an answer you must say what you have agreed with Him in His will or His word. So knowing God’s will is fundamental to getting answers in prayer. 1 John 5:15(KJV) says, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hearth us.” Confidence in prayer comes from knowing God’s will and approaching Him with same in prayer.
King Solomon, who was newly crowned King of Israel in today’s bible reading, knew God’s will and followed in the footsteps of David his father. First he recognised that God chose him to be king instead of his older brothers. Secondly, if God had made him king then he needed directions on how to go about judging the great people God has given him to preside over, leading him to pray in this manner, “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great people?” 1 Kings 3:9 (KJV)
God’s response showed what men usually ask for in prayers, “..Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgement.” Is it wrong to ask for long life or riches? Not at all! But God’s will asked for in that moment will give you even that which you did not asked for because God knows we what we need more than we do. “Behold, I have done according to thy words: I have given thee a wise and understating heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.”
We have been taught how to pray by our Lord Jesus Christ and learning from Solomon and how he got a wise and understanding heart will go further to help us pray according to the will of God to get answers quickly. as we learn and know His will we confidently go to Him in prayers always.
Prayer: Father, help me to know Your will so I can pray effectively in Jesus name.
Bro. Worthmore Aghanenu