“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Phil. 4:6)
Prayer, in regard to this verse, is asking the Almighty for specific things that we desire, our requests. There are important foundations that must be laid in our lives if we are going to do this, we must study the Scriptures so that we are in His will before we ask, we must be very sure that what we are asking for we honestly desire, having counted the cost if they are answered as we have requested, and we must be willing to accept the answer that we receive.
Above all, we must always remember who it is we are speaking to.
“For I am the LORD, I change not;” (Mal. 3:6a)
If Moses, Elijah, Paul, Peter or anyone else had asked for something that was not in His will, do not think that you will receive a different answer than they did.
If there is one prayer request that I believe all who have asked it of the Most High, and always received an answer in the affirmative, it is this.
“Teach me to serve you well.”
You cannot serve Him if you do not know Him, and you will never know Him until you do two things, study His Word and submit to His will.
Here is why it is vitally important to pray for Spiritual discernment, if you do not, there is a good possibility that you may be led astray, Satan and man, sometimes in collusion, sometimes apart, have invented numerous religious organizations just for that sole purpose. The Romanist tell those they have deceived that only their priest can offer prayers properly, subjecting them to repetition and vain words. Sadly, even in many Evangelical churches, Pastors, elders and deacons are sought out by those in the assembly as being “more worthy” to offer up prayers, not fully realizing what Matthew 27:51 means.
“And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”
You can go directly to your Father in heaven through the Lord Jesus Christ, He will modify your words, your heartfelt desires, your requests and present them Himself to the Almighty. No priest, no pastor, no elder, no wiser person is needed. But you must know what it is you want, why you are asking for it, and whether or not it is in His will, in accordance to the Scriptures.
The key, in a sense, my friends, is this. Will it glorify God?
Can you glorify the Almighty in a greater way if He heals you from your physical infirmity? You may have a wonderful testimony if He does, but would your need for Him lesson?
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2nd Cor. 12:9)
Praying for wants requires deductive reasoning skills, it requires, in part, the ability to look into the future and see how your life would be modified if He answered your request as you want Him to. Remember, only one of the ten lepers came back to praise His name, the others got what they wanted and needed Him no further.
Praying for the salvation of a loved one is honorable, but have you taken the steps yourself? Have you clearly laid out all that you know about what the Scriptures reveal about how a person can be born again to them? Before you pray, count the cost, as you are praying, perform those deeds worthy of repentance.
“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.” (Heb. 11:6)
If you are praying for the Lord to use you for His glory, then what you are praying for is for Him to reveal His will for you in your life. Your response is to act according to His will, and you can do neither, pray properly or behave yourself accordingly, unless you study His Word.
The Holy Spirit will guide you if that truly is what your heart is set upon.
