Confession time.

I’m having to re-think my attitude toward prayer. I used to pray more than I do now, but I got off track a number of years ago.

I went through a hard, confusing time and I allowed that season in my life to distort my view of God and how He answers prayer. I think my view of God has mostly recovered, but not my view of prayer.

What happened was that I prayed for things, but didn’t see God answer. I eventually concluded that God was going to do what He wanted to do anyway, so why pray?

Then it hit me about a week ago as I was walking on campus across the street from our house that I had prayed many years ago that God would let us live in a college town. Not only do we now live in a college town, but we practically live on campus. We have college students in our home all the time. We live just 1/4 mile from Razorback stadium.

Something I also prayed for was that God would give my children a heart to know Him. Today, I see evidence of that in all four of my children. I understand what John wrote in 3 John 4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

To be honest, I’ve read verses like John 15:7 and felt a little cynical: “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” Whatever I wish? Really, Jesus? Whatever?

I can’t help thinking Jesus might answer by saying, “Yes, Gregg, whatever you wish. Just be sure you don’t ignore the first part of the verse or the verse that comes after it.”

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”  (John 15:7-8)

One of the things I used to consistently pray for was easier circumstances. When God didn’t answer, I would get angry. My anger led to bitterness, which turned to cynicism…which led to my distorted view of prayer.

What did James tell us?

“You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”  (James 4:2b-3)

Many of prayers weren’t answered because my motives were wrong. I wanted things to be easier. I wanted to be comfortable. I was much less concerned with God’s will or His glory, and thus, my prayers went unanswered.

Jesus also said:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”  (John 14:12-14)

Notice again how Jesus doesn’t mince words. Have faith in Me. Ask Me for anything in My name and I’ll do it.

It almost sounds like a challenge, doesn’t it?

Actually, I think it’s both a challenge and a promise. The challenge is to be aligned with Jesus and His purposes. It’s being so surrendered to Him that His will and desires become ours, too. Our hopes and dreams are the same as His.

Then the promise is that as we pray for His will and His desires, we can be sure He will answer.

Where are you at today? Has your view of prayer been distorted? Have you been praying for the wrong things and not seeing God answer?

What if you made it your goal to remain in Jesus and for His words to remain in you? That would mean setting aside dedicated time to be in His word reading it and meditating on it.

What if you made it your goal to pray only according to His will? Again, that would mean being in His word and spending time with Him, so you know what’s on His heart.

Can you imagine what it would be like to regularly see Him answering your prayers?

Read to try it?