Removing The “Ifs” From Our Prayers
For those of you who are regular readers of In Thine Heart, you may know that one area in which I have asked God to help me better understand this year is the area of FAITH. I thank the Lord for how He has continued to place in front of me different examples and explanations of faith that have, in turn, given me the opportunity to apply and thus grow in my Christian walk! What a loving, patient God we serve!
This morning, as I read the devotional from Streams in the Desert, a certain portion really stood out to me:
“It is only by faith that a man can commit his way unto the Lord; if there be the slightest doubt in the heart that “our way” is not a good one, faith will refuse to have anything to do with it.” (from Streams in the Desert, November 21)
That, my friend, really struck my heart this morning. As I read it over several times, I was reminded of the times I have brought my petitions before the Lord – some of which I thought I was convinced were God’s will – yet, I would often include at the end of my prayer concerning that certain matter, “if it’s Your will, Lord”. By saying this, I was indicating uncertainty in my heart. Uncertainty and faith are opposites.
Yes, there are indeed times when we SHOULD include that phrase, “if it’s your will”. Situations in which we are not certain one way or the other. But, there should also be prayers that we can pray with complete confidence that what we are requesting is truly in accordance with God’s will. This morning, I was reminded of a quote I read a good while back by George Mueller:
“I live in the spirit of prayer. I pray as I walk about, when I lie down and when I rise up. And the answers are always coming. Thousands and tens of thousands of times have my prayers been answered. When once I am persuaded that a thing is right and for the glory of God, I go on praying for it until the answer comes. George Mueller never gives up!” ~ George Mueller
Did you notice the phrase above, “when once I am persuaded”? Becoming persuaded concerning God’s will in a matter may require some extended time alone with the Lord. It may even require denying our flesh through fasting. BUT…once we are confident of God’s will in a matter, we can remove the “ifs” at the end of our prayer.
God’s Word says,
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
This year, I have often found myself asking the Lord to help me have faith that pleases Him.
Today, I asked the Lord to help me move past all doubts concerning some specific prayer petitions. Today, I desire to remove the “ifs” from those prayers.
What about you? Do you need to “edit” some of your specific prayers? Are you lacking the confidence needed to “delete” some “ifs” in your petitions? Extended time alone with God can give you that confidence!
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” James 1:6,7