PRAYING ACCORDING TO GODS WILL Thursday March 6, 2014 The word of the Lord [came] to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem (Daniel 9:2). It is characteristic of Gods people to identify with Gods purposes and conform their will to His. Learning to pray according to His will is a major step in that process because it drives you to the Word and demonstrates a humble, submissive heart. Jesus emphasized the priority of Gods will when He said, I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me (John 6:58). He accomplished that goal, saying to the Father, I glorified Thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which Thou hast given Me to do (John 17:4). Even when facing the horror of the cross, Jesus didnt waver. Instead He prayed, Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Thine be done (Luke 22:42). Jesus taught His disciples the same priority, instructing them to pray, Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10). Daniel knew what it meant to pray according to Gods will. After reading the prophecy of a seventy-year Babylonian Captivity, he immediately accepted it as Gods will and began to pray for its fulfillment. His prayer wasnt passive resignation to some act of fate beyond his control. It was active participation in Gods plan as revealed in Scripture. He wasnt trying to change Gods will but was doing everything he could to see it come to pass. Thats the essence of praying according to Gods will. When you pray according to Gods will, you can be confident that He hears you and will grant your requests (1 John 5:14-15). Live in that confidence today! Suggestions for Prayer: • Be a diligent student of the Word so you will know Gods will. • Ask God to reveal areas in which your will is not conformed to His. As He does, take immediate steps to deal with them. For Further Study: Read Revelation 22:6-21, noting Gods will for Christs return, and how were to respond to it. Revelation 22:6-21 And he said to me, These words are faithful and true; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place. And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book. I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. But he said to me, Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God. And he said to me, Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy. Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying. I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. He who testifies to these things says, Yes, I am coming quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. From Drawing Near by John MacArthur. May God continue richly blessing you / Dios continúe bendiciéndole ricamente! Jesús Martín Romero
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 06:10:02 +0000