Children, whether young or growing, may at some point, if not more often, test the will of their parents and exercise their own will. The kid at the candy store wants to fill his bag full of delicious sweets, but his “mean” parents say, “No, you’ll get a stomach ache if you eat them all.” A child might throw a tantrum in the middle of the store.
A grown child wants to take an overnight trip in a car with a friend who is a brand new driver, without parental supervision. Their parents make the wise choice to say no for the safety and well-being of their son or daughter. When this happens, teenagers may sulk and respond to their parents with silence.
Have you ever thought about the fact that as children of God, we can act like literal children in response to how God has answered our prayers? Some of us may be angry at God because He is trying to punish or hurt us in some way. Others may feel that they can no longer trust God and decide to shut Him out and stop praying or reading His Word. We decided that our will for the situation was right and best for us. Still, maybe the Lord was protecting us…I think we can all admit that we have done something like that at one time or another…
But what if how we pray matters more than how God answers?…
“Then the sons of Hepher, the sons of Gilead, the sons of Gilead, and the daughters of Zelophehad came near from the family of Manasseh son of Joseph. Their names were Mahura, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They stood at the entrance of the tent before Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and the leaders, and all the congregation.” “Our father died in the wilderness, but he was not among those who gathered together with Korah against the Lord. But he died in his sins and had no son. Since our father had no son, why should the name of the father be blotted out from the family? Give wealth to the brothers of our father.” So Moses brought their case before the Lord. So the Lord said to Moses: “The daughters of Zerophehad are right; you must give them an inheritance among their father’s brethren, and transfer to them their father’s inheritance. And you shall say to the children of Israel, “If a man dies and has no son, you must transfer his inheritance to his daughter.” Numbers 27:1-8
Did the daughters of Zelophehad change God’s mind? Isn’t God sovereign, all-knowing, and commanding justly? Although God seems to have changed his mind about his original command, He is still sovereign and in control of all things. You see, these daughters made their requests according to God’s will. They were well aware of God’s commandments and were able to defend their father on that basis. The Lord honored their request. Because it was not out of God’s will.
This passage does not indicate that God missed anything when outlining his command to give an inheritance. Rather, it shows how accessible our great God is. Then we will know the Lord well, we will be able to approach Him with confidence, our will will be aligned with Him, and our prayers will be answered.
Let’s look at how to pray for God’s will.
know god well
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, now and forever! Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18
When you meet new friends for the first time, it’s so much fun to find out everything about them. You can sit for hours asking questions and sharing stories and realize how much you have in common. It’s great that we hit it off.
Our God is everything to us and more. He is our father, brother, “husband” and friend. There is much to learn about God in each of these roles.
When I first became a believer, I loved God’s Word. I wanted to learn everything I could about my Lord and Savior. I bought Vine’s dictionary and Strong’s commentary. For me, spending time in the Word was like being a lawyer going through discovery. I wanted to not just read the Word, but to fully understand it.
I was also blessed with a church that taught the Word of God from a strong Biblical perspective. I felt like I went to seminary!
When I was in my early Christian walks, there was a show on Christian radio called “Bible Answer Man” where the host would answer Bible questions received over a telephone line. I learned so much through that program!
Participating in Bible studies was, and continues to be, a key to my growth in knowing the Lord. It is also important to spend some quiet time just soaking in the Word and praying.
From those foundational years to today, I continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus. It’s not because I’m so great, it’s because I have solid Christians by my side, guiding me and giving me solid footing. My hope here is to pass on that same blessing.
Trust me, I’m still learning. It is truly a journey to know God. You will never stop learning because the Bible never stops speaking. It’s alive and active.
If you take these steps and commit to knowing God better, your prayers will be in perfect alignment with the Lord’s will, and the answers you receive will bear fruit.
Be still before the Lord
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
My daughter said this to me during a recent snowstorm. “Wow, Mom, you come up with crazy ideas to keep yourself busy.” LOL. She’s not wrong. You can’t just “sit” still. The “things” I need to do are administrative in nature. I don’t want people to think that I come here and clean out the closet every time I have free time. Hahaha.
Why is it so difficult for us to stay still? The world we live in moves so fast, with so much information coming in from all angles, that it’s impossible to stay still.
As believers, we need to be overcomers in this world so that we can remain still before our Heavenly Father. “After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there came a gentle whisper.” 1 Kings 19:12 Without silence, we cannot hear God’s voice on a deeper level. “And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, you hear behind you the words, “This is the way, walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 When we get caught up in the noise, we miss God’s instructions, God’s will. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of all the things I have said to you.” John 14:26 The Holy Spirit literally reveals God’s will to us.
So how can we practice stillness? We set aside time in our day to be still before the Lord without any distractions. Put away your phone, iPad, and laptop. Please turn off the TV. So ask the Holy Spirit to empty your mind of all the things that are distracting you. Picture yourself in the peaceful presence of the Lord…relax into the scene…wait and listen…
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13. When you develop the habit of being still before the Lord, you will be able to understand God’s will and pray for it.
empty self
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23
We are born selfish. lol. If you observe toddlers playing with other small children, you will see that they are cunning in getting what they want. Bait-and-switch tactics never cease to amaze me. lol. If you give me what I really want, I’ll give you this.
Sadly, we bring selfishness into our prayers, especially our deepest desires. Selfishness seems like a very harsh word, especially when we are praying for something we have long desired, such as a husband or children. Pray for healing for a loved one, or pray for freedom from addiction or suffering. None of that is inherently bad.
This means that no matter how fundamentally good our prayers may seem, we are empty of ourselves in praying God’s will.
But how do we do that? If the Lord says He will give us the desires of our hearts, wouldn’t we pray to have them come true? Of course you pray that prayer boldly, but when you pray with that hope, there also comes the acceptance that it may not be God’s will. Jesus himself exemplified this in the Garden of Gethsemane. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me, but not my will, but yours, be done.” Luke 22:42. When we pray for the desires of our heart, we must also free ourselves from that prayer.
After deepening our faith, getting to know God better, and practicing being still before God, we must empty ourselves, gain a new understanding of what God wants in the situation, and pray accordingly.
Dear Lord, help me to know You better, to be still before You, to empty myself, and to pray the will of God without fear.
Regarding God’s will, what areas of prayer do you struggle with the most? What areas could you improve to better understand God’s will?
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/ThitareeSarmkasat
Karen Dell Tattoo is a blogger, author, women’s ministry leader, pastor’s wife, mother, and grandmother who is passionate about God’s Word. Her blog, “Growing Together in Grace and Knowledge,” and her books, “Choosing to Trust God: Breaking the Habit of Worry,” “A 30-Day Devotional,” and “Choosing to Trust God Companion Journal,” reveal her heart offering biblical insights to inspire women to grow in, through, and overcome hardship. Karen and her husband live in Rhode Island and enjoy walking in the woods, petting owls, and spending time with their grandchildren.
