| When Not To Pray |
When Not to Pray
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything
according to His will, He hears us.
— 1 John 5:14
In a broad sense, we should pray about everything. But there are certain
things we don't need to pray about. For example, if someone were to
say, "Greg, I am praying about robbing a bank. Would you pray with
me?" I will pray for that person, but I won't pray that God will bless their
efforts. Why? Because the Bible says, "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:
15). We don't need to pray about that.
Yet there are certain things God tells us we can pray for. He tells us we
can pray for wisdom: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,
who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to
him" (James 5:5).
We can pray for His provision. Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God
shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ
Jesus."
We can pray for protection. Psalm 91:5–7 says, "You shall not be afraid
of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the
pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste
at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your
right hand; but it shall not come near you."
The key to effective prayer is getting our will in alignment with God's will,
because 1 John 5:14 tells us, "Now this is the confidence that we have
in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us."
Nothing lies outside the reach of prayer except that which lies outside of
the will of God. God only answers the requests that He inspires.
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything
according to His will, He hears us.
— 1 John 5:14
In a broad sense, we should pray about everything. But there are certain
things we don't need to pray about. For example, if someone were to
say, "Greg, I am praying about robbing a bank. Would you pray with
me?" I will pray for that person, but I won't pray that God will bless their
efforts. Why? Because the Bible says, "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:
15). We don't need to pray about that.
Yet there are certain things God tells us we can pray for. He tells us we
can pray for wisdom: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,
who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to
him" (James 5:5).
We can pray for His provision. Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God
shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ
Jesus."
We can pray for protection. Psalm 91:5–7 says, "You shall not be afraid
of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the
pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste
at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your
right hand; but it shall not come near you."
The key to effective prayer is getting our will in alignment with God's will,
because 1 John 5:14 tells us, "Now this is the confidence that we have
in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us."
Nothing lies outside the reach of prayer except that which lies outside of
the will of God. God only answers the requests that He inspires.
| C4W Devotions are used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie P.O. Box 4000 Riverside , CA 92514 |