Such a good question, something I've struggled with for sure 1) God commands us to ask for what we want (John 15:7) 2) If we don't, we may not get it (James 4:2) 3) God plans our prayers just as surely as he plans the events that he performs in answer to our prayers (Luke 22:32) Hope everyone continues to put Jesus first one day at a time. Looking forward to communing in heaven 😊

Maybe we’re largely missing the point. Maybe it’s not about “getting things” or “manipulating God”, but rather, closeness and intimacy with Jesus.

4:41 "We pray toward what He tells us to pursue, not by trying to figure out what He sovereignly decrees." well said

I never thought of it this way. I’m the kind of person that thinks if i pray for something grand by my standards, God might automatically not want it for me. And so i waver in praying for it. Thank you for this!

I think this question is something Christians struggle with all the time even Christians who have been saved for a long time. Great explanation, thanks John.

I am so blessed. Thank you Pastor John.

I pray that I do not receive what I want nor what I deserve but that I receive what I need 🙏

Our wants should be according to his will not our fleshy desires 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿

Very timely. I was asking God this right now and then I found this. Thank you Lord. I will continue praying. God bless both of you.

Thank you Pastor John. I have been going through a tough time and feeling discouraged about praying. This has encouraged me more.

My pastor answered this question as follows: "God will never do, outside of prayer, what he has willed to do through prayer." Settled the matter for me.

I learn so much from these podcasts. Thank You Pastor John!

I prayed for strength, he gave me trials to overcome. I prayed for money, he says I have treasures in heaven. He asks.. do I still want money? I said no bcos I'm content with the treasures in heaven. Praying is about chit chatting with God. It's love, fun and insightful! Is that pointless? I think it's a gift in itself!

The best way to pray is to pray with the child's trust. (if you are an adult or teen of course). The girl asking the question already let the doubt consume her thoughts. Children don't think "Oh, I don't know if my mom will buy me a new toy. Does she have money to buy me a new toy". They just ask. And if they don't get what they want, they cry. So if you want something just cry hysterically at it will be ok. No, I'm joking, but you guys get my point. Trust, and don't let your mind be poisoned by doubt.

Prayer is not just about asking for what you want... It's a way to get closer to our father. Just speaking to him about the weather is prayer.. it's about relationship, trust in him and have faith he will follow through with what's best for us.

So well said!

Even an unanswered prayer will bring you closer to His presence.

I thought this was a good, thorough answer from Pastor John. If I may, I would like to examine this question from another perspective. There seems to be a presupposition behind this question that goes like this, If God is sovereign, then it shouldn't be necessary to pray because God is already bringing it to pass. In other words, we think an indicative about God (who He is, particularly His attribute of sovereignty) conflicts with an imperative to the believer (the command to pray). First, the Bible reveals both. It shows that God is sovereign (Isaiah 46:9-11, Proverbs 16:9, 21:1, Psalm 135:6, Daniel 4:34-35, Acts 2:23, Romans 9, etc.) and that we are commanded/exhorted to pray (Matthew 6:9-13, Ephesians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, James 4:3, 1 John 3:22, etc.). Both are clearly shown in scripture. Second, because both are clearly shown, then this question may have the presupposition that either the indicative or the imperative must be incorrect. In other words, we can only obey the command to pray if God isn't sovereign (basically saying the verses about God's sovereignty is either wrong, incorrect, or misinterpreted) or if God truly is sovereign, then we think the imperative about praying is either wrong, incorrect, or must be ignored. In essence, we want to pit the scriptures against itself to make our obedience to prayer valid. As Pastor John rightly said, we are to obey the revealed commands of God over the decrees not always laid out in detail in scripture but are true based on God's direct revelation from scripture that they are evident (this is the reason Deuteronomy 29:29 says the secret things belong to God, but we are to obey what He has commanded and Romans 11:33-36 tells us the depths of the riches of the knowledge and wisdom of God are past finding out to our finite minds). We should never use God's sovereignty as an excuse to disobey the direct commands in scripture. Third, prayer has a deeper meaning then just asking for stuff, it is interceding, intreating, or making supplication in the will of God for things. We pray not just for the desired response, but the right response in the will of God that draws us closer to fellowship with Him. The more you know the Lord through the scriptures (because John 17:17 says the truth of God's Word sanctifies us), the more your prayers will be in line with God's will. In fact, Romans 12:2 tells us to renew our minds so we can ascertain the will of God. This is the reason most of my prayers includes, "if it be your will." Interestingly enough, one Greek word in the NT for prayer is proseuchomai, which not only means make supplication, but worship. Prayer is not just about what we want, but what God will do in His sovereign will as an act of worship to Him. So we can pray in His revealed will, but for things we don't know in His sovereign, we can still pray and ask God to do it if it is in His decree. We're not to worry about what God is doing that is secret to us, but obey what He has clearly revealed.

God does answer prayers and prayer is meaningful. I have seen so many answered prayers I don't know where to begin.

I struggle with this. When there is a necessity, like a sickness or something to overcome I pray but then I’m like wait idk if I should pray for what I want or Gods will so I pray both.

Just these past two weeks, I'd been thinking in the mentality of that question. I'm happy for Desiring God.

I wish I could "like" this twice. I walk away from it with so much hope and clarity, ready to go boldly to the throne! Thank you, Pastor John! ♡

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick" Proverbs 13:12 Thanks God, your so good I want to throw up

I Want to be What the LORD GODFATHER in Christ Wants me to be Everlastingly,... with Earnest Prayers.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Proverbs 16:4 ESV / 1,275 helpful votes The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

Great explanation thankyou! This is how i see it as well. God takes future prayers he knows are going to happen and works that into his plans

This is one question no one can say they have the answer. The fundamental foundation remains, God is sovereign. We cannot change what He purposes. 👉🏻But there are some broad principles. ✨Pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17). That would mean that prayer becomes the very nature of a born-again believer. ✨ The Lord Himself will be praying for us when situations are baffling & we don't know how to go about (Luke 22:32 & Romans 8:26,27 & James 4:3). ✨Prayer isn't about answered prayers. Even when we seek God sincerely we may not get a favorable response, but we get reassured about God's secure presence in our lives (2 Cor 12:8,9). ✨The true born-again believer is led by his indwelling Holy Spirit to will & to act according to the Lord's purpose (Phil 2:13).

Thank you, God, for giving us this message from Your Word in Pastor John’s answer. I really needed this answer. I have been praying for it!

As long as Your Prayers is Out From the Heart of Your Soul in Christ,then TRULY the LORD GODFATHER in Christ HEARS Your PRAYERS and It is SURE That It SHALL COME to PASS in Your Lifes in Christ in ETERNAL REALITY.and don't Worry for You Shall Experience It All as long as Your Souls Lives today and everyday continually Everlastingly.So Be Prayerful Everyday because it is Good to Your Souls in Christ.

If we are to pray for Gods will to be done then if would be that we are all saved from this fallen world. Because we are blind and die . Jesus save us all from evil .

Brilliant revelation from God through pastor John, may Godbless you all

Yes. If God has already determined everything to happen according to His sovereign will, then why pray? Why witness? Why read the Bible? Why go to church? If everything is going to turn out the way God has decreed it, it is logical to assume that prayer is useless.

He wants us to keep praying but he may not grant us those wishes. While it may be useless to us to keep praying, it is however very useful to Him because it gives him proof that if what we ask for is not in line with his wishes, He can use that to justify kicking us off the team. It certainly has a purpose for his glory but for us not so much. Maybe that's why they said to separate the chaff from the wheat.

The short answer is cause God told us to! A good book to read on this subject is “Trusting God”.

I think we should pray more to be able to conform to the image of God which is our Lord Jesus Christ. The rest should be secondary, I think this is what it means to pray according to His will.

That is my prayer life challenge. I , sometimes wonder if God cares for me .it's seems wondering in wilderness

The question arises again, why should I do anything at all if GOD already has everything planned and if I trust him he will provide?

Just as God has ordained that salvation come through the preaching of the gospel, so God has ordained to act on the behalf His saints in response to their prayers.

Hi everyone I have been struggling with my inner problem please pray for me thank you Amen and God bless you 😇🙏✝️

Praise God!!!

Have you never heard of praying in the Spirit. That is the Holy Spirit prompting your mind as to what to pray for which will be according to the will of God. Secondly, we do not have to pray with the 'gimmee's'. Always asking for ourselves and what we 'think' others need. So often it is God's grace that is needed and not all our selfish desires. Thirdly, when we study God's word and see the marvellous things God has done for us in Christ Jesus and what He is doing according to His purposes, then our prayers will be of praise then worship to our wonderful Saviour, the Lord Jesus and to God our Father.

Thanks for renewing my desire for prayer

God commands us to ask anything we want, but He never give everything we ask! I prayed many times asking for something, but every time a person who's never pray gets it what i asked for. It's better not to pray and not getting what i want than praying and not getting.

Dear brothers and sisters i greet you in our Lord Jesus Christ Four years ago, I began to engage in faith. I started here in Croatia in the catholic church to visit mass and to read The Holy Scriptures. Very early on, I noticed that what is taught and practiced in the catholic church contradicts the Holy Scriptures and what Jesus taught us. In addition, some things in the Holy Bible were unclear to me and raised additional questions and doubts, such as: - If our God is the God of love and justice, why are we punished for the sins of Adam? Doesn't that contradict the principles of love and justice? An earthly father who is full of faults and weaknesses would not do such a thing, then how can we think such a thing about our Perfect Father? - How can a loving father throw his child forever in the hell? That also contradicts these principles. And besides, in 1 Timothy 2; 3 + 4: "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." So, if this were really so, that in spite of His will, people will be brought forever to hell and not saved, this would mean that He can not enforce His will and thus He is not the omnipotent God, if we follow these doctrines believe. - Why does it say in some passages that Jesus is the Son of God, in others the Son of Man and in others that He and God are one? Although I kept going to the Catholic Mass, at home I no longer practiced the prayers of the catholic church, but started talking like a child to my Father (Matthew 6: 7 + 8 ). After a short while, I got the answer to everything. He guided me through a friend of my mother to the revelations of Bertha Dudde. Now I know that the Bible does not contradict itself. God can not contradict himself. The truth is not in the word, in the letter, but in the understanding, in the interpretation of it. Now I know that Jesus is God and our Father in heaven, and I understand all the processes and contexts, and through this I have come to know that He is the perfect Love and not the strict, punitive God. As he promised us in John 14; 21: "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. " 16; 12 + 13: "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. " 16; 25: "These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. " In the revelations of Bertha Dudde, His promise was fulfilled, just as every other of His promises was and will be fulfilled, for He never quits (Titus 1: 2) because His word is truth (John 17; 17) and all that will happen is what He said has (Hebrews 10; 23, Ezekiel 12; 25:28, etc.) My loved brothers and sisters, I ask you not to blindly believe me, but as written in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verses 19-21: " Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. " Before you begin to look, go into prayer and ask our Father Jesus Christ for enlightenment to put you in your heart, whether that's really His word or not. Do not read with your mind or knowledge, but with your heart, for knowledge (knowledge, understanding) puffeth up, love (heart) edifieth (1 Corinthians 8: 1), for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life (2 Corinthians 3: 6). kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iKx7Zc6Ym7fXYIE.html My dear brothers and sisters, the situation in Christianity is alarming, frightening and very sad and for that very reason the end is near, the time is up. Only in a very small part are the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5; 22) recognizable, and thus only a very few truly belong to Christ, for only those who enjoy the fruits and grow in them are of his (Romans 8: 9). "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…" Hosea 4; 6 I wish you a blessed day my beloved brothers and sisters, May the Love of our Lord Jesus Christ shine through your heart and lead you into the truth.

Bottomline- we have no true will and there isn’t true purpose to prayer because He manipulates our thoughts, our hearts, our events, etc. Ultimately, if we don’t get the peace or healing we have been praying for years for, we can direct the lack of outcome to at some point ceasing to pray for it?? For someone who wants a relationship with us, he sure makes it more and more complicated to decipher.

God brings about all things in accordance with his will in other words, it isn’t just that God manages to turn the evil aspects of our world to good for those who love him,it is rather that He himself brings about these evil aspects for his glory. This includes as incredible and unacceptable as it may currently seem, God having even brought about the Nazis brutality of Birkenau and Auschwitz, as well as the terrible killing byDennis Rader, and even the sexual abuse of a young child.”

just pray within your heart and soul. let God will be done! He knows what you need!

Many use prayer as a wish list, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. In Aramaic to pray means to align. So when we do come to the Lord and pray we need to align with his perspective, with an open honest heart,so that we can be changed according to his will. That is why we pray it is not for gifts and such. He isn’t a celestial Santa Claus. I suppose we can ask him for anything that is true and we can ask him for things that we want because God does want us to be part of the process. However, I have found that aligning with God and what we think he would want is much more effective in my life than just throwing up a whole bunch of wishes.

I am noticing that when Christians talk and teach about prayer, prayer is equated with “ask to get something.” Is that all prayer is? Are we forgetting that this is just one aspect of prayer (asking)? If that is all we are concerned about, then is it the biblical God whom we are coming to (or a fast food drive through window)? God wants fellowship...if that fellowship becomes us and our lists of wants, something is amiss. It is hard to find sermons, books, or anything that talk about prayer in words and concepts other than us asking for God to do something. This question should be framed in a way that describes the whole of what prayer is, not just “give me our daily bread.”

So basically you should pray for what you want, but the thing you want can't be what you really want, but what God wants. It seems to me that your true desires/wishes don't count for God. This might be bad to say, but I have to be honest here.

Thank you pastor. This has helped me greatly.

I feel like I have not gotten a satisfying enough answer to this question other than, "Cuz God said so". Which is fine, but itsnt intellectually satisfying enough. Ironically, I ask for others to pray for me to have God bring understanding of the bigger picture of praying, specifically for other people.

Why the evil prosper and get their wants?

Thank you

I don't hear any anointing from the Holy Spirit on this at all. He sounds like he makes sense to him and him alone.

Most helpful video ever from desiring god

In reference to 7:33 in particular... I struggle with this feeling as well. I feel like I'm nagging the Lord when I pray(once or repeatedly) for something. I feel as though it's almost rude to ask or expect him to change whatever his will is. Sure, he can be fully trusted to change said will to something else or by some other means but, like, he clearly chose his decision... for a reason... which I cannot fathom nor should feel obligated to know. Praying for something else feels like second guessing him. It also comes off to me as if 'you' think he is unaware of whatever causes u to pray. And ur being impatient or doubtful of his capability. If he was open to your thoughts and feelings, maybe he would let you know?... So maybe then you'd be OK to pray for a different approach... Idk, I've just always felt weird praying in general, aside from normal: 'thank you, praise be to you' I understand this is not a commonplace type of idea, and I get how some people pray about everything. But I personally just feel weird 'expecting' anything from my prayers.

Can we just pray for God to do his will rather than what we want? Can we change God's will?

YOOOOOOO THIS IS AMAZING

Man. James 4:2 is so simple, but I have totally missed this...

Yes. The answer is yes.

Very good explanation, thank you

So my prayers are part of His plan, then if I am not praying, is that also part of His plan or is that my sinfulness?

I think the bigger question is what are our motives?

Luke 11:1-4 KJVS [1] And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. [2] And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. [3] Give us day by day our daily bread. [4] And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

First 2 points are enlightening, the third one not so much that invalidates the first 2.

God is just trying to let the world see the evil. That’s why he’s got me going in circle . It was written for me to screw up so he can show the world that heaven exist. It’s been his duty since the beginning of time. How many chances do we let evil go on before the solution?

Wow thank you Pastor John this is really good word to my soul! Thank you!

Thanks so much for answering this question! Has been a source of befuddlement for me for a while :)

man , this person at least has prayer life

"Gods Will Be Done" Give us our daily bread. Forgive us..as we forgive. Deliver us from evil. We can Pray this prayer! It is not pointless.

❤it means nothing

I have a question Have you read the 147 volumes of the Fathers all 60,300 pages ?

Good

Are you crazy Jesus tells us to pray to The Father in Jesus name READ THE BIBLE

Really? So when a Christian is lazy and doesn’t pray that means God also willed that in His sovereign will? 🤔 Deal with both sides of the coin, not just one side.

2:55 4:05 ** 7:00 9:13 *

Amazing 👏🙏❤️

Prayers... Are what we got...besides loving our brothers... Prayers are our part...forgiveness.. Hope...faith... Love....

I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART THAT PRAYER WORKS, BUT I LEARN IT THE HARD WAY THAT PRAYER DOESN'T WORK, PRAYER IS PRETTY USELESS, IT'S JUST CONFIRMATION BIAS, PRAYER HAS NO EFFICACY WHATSOEVER, PRAYER IT'S JUST WISHFUL THINKING AND BEGGING, GOD WILL NOT ANSWER ANY PRAYER, CHRISTIAN OR NOT, HOLY OR UNHOLY, GOOD PERSON OR BAD PERSON, GOD DOESN'T ANSWER PRAYER AND THAT IS A FACT!....

So before ink and Bible codes everybody went to hell ??

Amen!

Great!

Downright foolish.

You shouldn't

When the believes of the disciples were not bigger then a mustard seed... How big is our faith in Jezus Christ?

This is so powerful

There are three levels of prayer: #1. Kingdom prayer #2. Power prayer #3. Glory prayer Few will ever mature past kingdom prayer. Those are “milk” prayers which lack commitment but are necessary for exposure to doubt.

I really wish God would grant me things I want :/

You can sugarcoat it any way you want. Prayer for most is just “mud slinging”. Ive heard many of pipers “prayers” and they all have one thing in common...he attempts to tell or ask THE “truth”. He never prays HIS truth. His are little more than petitions for more information or revelation based on his characterization of god. Not a word of self truth. His are “ milk” prayers.

He should of corrected the question immediately. Prayer in essence is not about seeing what “you wish” come to pass. Prayer is about drawing near to God in intimacy and relationship. The closer you get to him, the more you know his will then your prayers become effectual. Prayer isn’t a gumball machine, it’s a love relationship with a person.

I think i know god now. I dont need anything now. Good bye world? Si in nara mother truckers...? O.o blasphemies...?

*"IF"* reformed theology is true, and if sovereignty is defined as Calvinists define sovereignty, *"THEN"* not only is the act of pondering the question posed in this video meaningless, but Christ is meaningless, and humanity itself is not only meaningless but nonexistent! That's how dumb reformed theology is!

Sigh. Can’t stand this guy.

No, the purpose of praying is to give you hope. Prayer is a pep talk to yourself. It is supposed to fire us up so we worship ALL DAY LONG. If you don’t worship all day long, you seriously need to thoroughly examine your walk. I thought I was a Christian for 42 years. I was a very lukewarm Christian. You do not want to get spit out. That was a direct reference to Jonah for those who don’t know. Jonah was the only sign Jesus ever gave. The Firstborn of the Dead will have a testimony like Samuel and Jonah (being called all his life) and Paul. Trust me on this one, if your inclination is to scoff. Capture that thought if so and be grateful because the world is about to change. What is the best food for the heart? Almonds. I have been given the cure for a broken heart. This will be a very special Easter for those who choose to believe. Someone has risen from the dead. Jesus should have told the disciples to read the book of Daniel when he told them how to pray. Paul told us exactly how to pray. We are to pray believing whatever we ask for will come true. If we pray according to his will everything comes true all the time. This is why he said to pray with thanksgivng. Belief is far more powerful than you ever imagined. Seek knowledge above all else. It will lead to true belief, which will lead to true repentance, which will lead to completion. Full self-actualization. Eternity is written on all of our hearts. "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." The calf reversal prayer.