We know that if we pray according to His will, He hears us... if He hears us He will do it...
BY PENN CLARK
We have been given a great confidence booster in 1 John 5:14-15 where we are assured that if we pray according to God’s will, He hears us. If He hears us, He will answer our prayers:
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
We can be assured of answered prayers even before we begin to lift our voices. I took this idea and coupled it with the prayers that Paul wrote out in his letters, knowing that each prayer reveals what the will of God is for us today. I have often prayed theses prayers for myself and over those I care about. I have done this on and off for years and have seen a real benefit from doing so. Try praying them over your friends, family, and for your own church for the next thirty days and see what happens. Keep in mind, God does not want us to pray by rote, but from the heart, filled with faith, otherwise it will not profit us much at all (Hebrews 4:2).
I took these prayers from the New King James Bible but noticed there were key lines from other translations that helped me gain additional insights into what to pray for. In time, I also personalized each prayer, which I included here to help inspire you to do the same:
Ephesians 1:15-21 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
The Phillips Translation: Since, then, I heard of this faith of yours in the Lord Jesus and the practical way in which you are expressing it towards fellow-Christians, I thank God continually for you and I never give up praying for you; and this is my prayer. That God, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ and the all-glorious Father, will give you spiritual wisdom and the insight to know more of him: that you may receive that inner illumination of the spirit which will make you realise how great is the hope to which he is calling you—the magnificence and splendour of the inheritance promised to Christians—and how tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God.
Personalized: “Father, I pray that you would give me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You. I want to know you more!
Open the eyes of my heart so that I may know what the hope of my calling and purpose is and what the real riches are that you have for me, hidden within the Body of Christ.
Help me to see what you see in me.
Show me the miraculous power that is available to us who believe today. Allow me to experience the same power that You used when you raised Jesus from the dead.”
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Ephesians 3:14-21 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
The Phillips Translation: When I think of the greatness of this great plan I fall on my knees before God the Father (from whom all fatherhood, earthly or heavenly, derives its name), and I pray that out of the glorious richness of his resources he will enable you to know the strength of the spirit's inner re-inforcement—that Christ may actually live in your hearts by your faith. And I pray that you, firmly fixed in love yourselves, may be able to grasp (with all Christians) how wide and deep and long and high is the love of Christ—and to know for yourselves that love so far beyond our comprehension. May you be filled though all your being with God himself!
Now to him who by his power within us is able to do far more than we ever dare to ask or imagine—to him be glory in the Church through Jesus Christ for ever and ever, amen!
Personalized: “Father, strengthen me on the inside with your Spirit’s power.
I want Christ to so abide in me, that I may become more rooted and grounded in His love and be able to comprehend with my heart the width and length and depth and height of His love, in a way that I have never been able to fully grasp before.
Take me beyond my own limited thinking so that I may be filled with all the fullness of God/Love.
I know you are able to do this and exceedingly abundantly more than I can ask or imagine, because of Your miraculous power which is at work within me. So, I thank you in advance for what you are about to do.
Do it, O Lord, by and for your glory. Amen!”
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Philippians 1:8-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
The Amplified Bible: For God is my witness how I long for and pursue you all with love, in the tender mercy of Christ Jesus [Himself]!
And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment],
So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble].
May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [that His glory may be both manifested and recognized].
Personalized: “Lord, I pray that You would cause Your love to grow within me more and more, so I will increase in spiritual knowledge and experience and that my ability to discern the things that are excellent may increase, so I can live sincerely and without offense until the Day when I stand before You face to face.
I ask that you fill me with the fruits of righteousness that can only come from living right before You, and that I may bring glory and honor to Your Name Lord.”
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Colossians 1:9-18 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
The Message Translation:
Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you'll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.
God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He's set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.
We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.
Personalized: “Lord, I ask that You fill me with the knowledge of Your will, and with wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that I may walk worthy of You, pleasing You in all I do.
I want to be fruitful in whatever I say and do.
Increase my personal experience of You!
Strengthen me with spiritual power, Lord, according to Your miraculous power that is at work within me, so that I may endure whatever comes my way, with hope and cheerfulness.
Give me the ability to endure whatever people do - with joy.
I want to live a life full of thanksgiving and praise towards You, Father, because you have enabled me to become a partaker of everything you have given to your children.
You have wonderfully delivered me from the grip of spiritual darkness which once dominated my life, having transferred me into the kingdom of Your dear Son - help me to walk in that reality.
Thank you for redeeming me through Your blood - fixing your value on me, and for forgiving me of all my sins.
I look to Jesus to help me to see You as You really like, dear Father.
You have created everything that is in heaven and that are on Earth, visible and invisible, including every level of authority. All things were created through You and for You. Help me to rest in your sovereignty.
Because of You, everything is held together, both in the earth and in heaven, including all that goes on in my own life.
Thank You Jesus for being the Head of my Church. I pray that as such, you will be given the preeminence in my own church, in my family, and in my daily life.”
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1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
New English Bible: “What thanks for all the joy you have brought us, making us rejoice before God while we pray most earnestly night and day to be allowed to see you again and to mend your faith where it falls short. May our God and Father of our Lord Jesus, bring us direct to you; and may the Lord make your love mount and overflow towards one another and towards all, as our love does towards you. May He make your hearts firm, so that you may be able to stand before our God and Father holy and faultless when our Lord Jesus comes with all those who are His own.”
Personalized: “Lord, furnish whatever is lacking in my faith.
Please make me to increase in love towards others, just as You have loved me as contributes to my living a selfless and holy life in your sight.
Lord, let my heart be firm as a foundation, allowing me to build a blameless life upon it, so that I can freely stand before you, both now and forever, with all those who have gone on before me.”
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Philemon 1:4-7 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
New International Version (1978 Edition): “I thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all saints. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.”
Personalized: Thank you Father, for giving me opportunities today to share my faith with others, and to do it effectively.
Help me to do it more often, so that I can gain an ever-deepening appreciation of every good thing that I have been given in Christ Jesus.
Extend your love for others through me so that we are all refreshed at a heart level - again and again. Thank You, Lord!”
BLESSINGS AND BENEDICTIONS
There are also a number of blessings or benedictions found in scripture, which we can also be prayed into our lives and the lives of others. Let these sink down in your heart:
The Lord asked Aaron, who was His spiritual representative in the earth, to stand continually before the people and bless them by pronouncing the following over them:
“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, `This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.’” (Numbers 6:22-27)
This blessing was not intended to become a mindless liturgy, but a reminder of what is in God’s own heart for His people.
Beyond this, it was a reminder to those in ministry of how He feels about the congregation, so they would not become hardened after seeing their faults and failures, forgetting how God sees them.
To bless someone means to benefit them. Everything God does is for our benefit. Even His chastening is for our benefit.
The Lord is disposed to protect us and preserve us. This is found in the word keep, which is translated throughout the Bible in the following ways:
to guard
to generally protect,
to attend to,
to beware of,
to be circumspect towards,
to take heed to,
to keep,
to mark,
to look narrowly upon,
to observe,
to preserve,
to regard,
to reserve,
to save,
to wait for,
watch (-man).
This desire of God to bless His people is echoed in the New Testament in Jude’s blessing, which he used to end his short epistle:
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy…” (Jude 1:24)
Here are some others that you can meditate upon:
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore. (Psalm 121:7-8)
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.(Romans 15:5-6)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:14)
Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13)
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.(Hebrews 13:20-21)
AMEN!
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CREDITS
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Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (MSG) taken from The Message. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
Scripture quotations marked (JBP) are taken from The New Testament in Modern English, copyright © 1958, 1959, 1960 J.B. Phillips and 1947, 1952, 1955, 1957 The Macmillan Company, New York. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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The New English Bible, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, 1961.