How to Know if Your Prayers are in Line With God's Will

We are told to pray according to God’s will, and that, believing, we will have what we ask.

And yet the question remains: How do we know if what we pray is God’s will?

As always we will look to scripture for the answer. We know that after the resurrection, the apostles worked in accordance with God’s will. So, what did the apostles pray for? For example, how did they know if asking for a healing would be in God’s will?

Everything they prayed for was to further the kingdom of God on earth, to secure eternal souls for heaven. If what you pray for serves the kingdom—and not just your own desires—then you can be assured that it is indeed in line with God’s will, and that if you pray the prayer of faith—not doubting—then you will have what you ask for in prayer.

Every time the apostles prayed, it was for the purpose of glorifying God, for them to become better servants in the Kingdom. James 4:3

What you seek should be in line with God's will. Your prayers should not be self-seeking, but God-seeking, to bring glory to Him. That is why He created you. It is about God. It is good to know that by seeking His glory, we invite God's grace into our lives. In Jeremiah 29:11 God says 'For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.'

God wants to bless us. By seeking His will, we will find blessings in our lives. God must come first.  

 

This is where the Word of Faith Movement confuses people. Its teachers promote the idea that God’s will is that all His servants live financially prosperous lives, filled with every thing they want. But this is blatantly anti-scriptural. The biblical meaning of ‘abundant lives’ and ‘blessings’ is quite different from the worldly definition.

Matthew 6:24 warns us that we cannot serve ourselves and God.

James 2:5 tells us that God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith.

Hebrews 13:5 commands our conduct to be without covetousness, and for us to be content with what we have.

James 5:14-15 clearly informs us that the prayer of faith will save the sick. God healing people brings glory to God. But He does not hear the doubtful, wavering heart (James 1:6). 'The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers; for the face of the Lord is against those who do evil (1 Peter 3:12). 

Are your prayers filled with self-involved desire? Or are they in line with God's will, designed to bring glory to His name?