1 John 5:15 - in my opinion supports asking for anything. It doesn't mean God will say yes. But if done in faith, and if genuine and not a selfish request then I think its likely to be a yes. I personally have prayed and I thought I checked both boxes and was denied. This can feel devastating to someone's faith at times. But we don't know the answers to everything. There is suffering in this world, especially as Christians. We aren't here to have everything totally comfortable and to serve us.
For example, a friend prayed for safety for racers before a race and someone ended up dying. That was a total shock to me. It was an unselfish prayer for people's safety but that prayer wasn't answered as a yes that particular time. The Bible says our life is as a vapour, so I think our real life is after this life.
I always say that when His Spirit is in alignment with our spirit then we can ask whatever we will in His Name and He will answer it. In other words; His desires become our desires; and certainly He will give us the Holy Spirit ( Luke 11:13) and I would say in increasing levels as we commit more to obedience and our love of serving Him. His spiritual gifts are things as Paul indicated we should seek with emphasis on certain gifts over others.
Another way of looking at this is our place in the Body of Christ. Therefore hopefully many of our requests are for others rather than ourselves. Obviously there are big things such as a husband or wife that are personal wants that we should bring to God unless He has clearly directed our lives elsewhere. It should be clear as well that we should continue to pray in all of our relationships rather than just figuring once it is answered there is no further need for it; especially if we want to maintain a healthy marriage and family. Sadly in my situation that didn't continue shortly after matrimony; due to many of my own faults.
It is helpful in my opinion to say the following; anything we would be ashamed to pray in front of others is probably something we should not pray on our own. In other words in the above example; if we pray for a spouse the Body of Christ should be supportive; along with material needs. Naturally we shouldn't hang around those we may have a crush on to pray for us for a boyfriend; or try to manipulate people in asking them to pray for material needs just because we think they should loosen their pursestrings.
Of course the basic concept I am sure you are familiar with; God either says yes; no or not yet. More often than that He wants us to learn patience and to learn of His ways so that we can communicate more effectively and understand how He often chooses to answer requests. As I stated with someone else on the subject of anxiety (Phillippians 4:6-7) thanksgiving is key!
For example, a friend prayed for safety for racers before a race and someone ended up dying. That was a total shock to me. It was an unselfish prayer for people's safety but that prayer wasn't answered as a yes that particular time. The Bible says our life is as a vapour, so I think our real life is after this life.
Another way of looking at this is our place in the Body of Christ. Therefore hopefully many of our requests are for others rather than ourselves. Obviously there are big things such as a husband or wife that are personal wants that we should bring to God unless He has clearly directed our lives elsewhere. It should be clear as well that we should continue to pray in all of our relationships rather than just figuring once it is answered there is no further need for it; especially if we want to maintain a healthy marriage and family. Sadly in my situation that didn't continue shortly after matrimony; due to many of my own faults.
It is helpful in my opinion to say the following; anything we would be ashamed to pray in front of others is probably something we should not pray on our own. In other words in the above example; if we pray for a spouse the Body of Christ should be supportive; along with material needs. Naturally we shouldn't hang around those we may have a crush on to pray for us for a boyfriend; or try to manipulate people in asking them to pray for material needs just because we think they should loosen their pursestrings.
Of course the basic concept I am sure you are familiar with; God either says yes; no or not yet. More often than that He wants us to learn patience and to learn of His ways so that we can communicate more effectively and understand how He often chooses to answer requests. As I stated with someone else on the subject of anxiety (Phillippians 4:6-7) thanksgiving is key!
Agape.
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