
Prayer is a powerful form of communication with God, and it is integral to human existence. It is a universal language that transcends cultural boundaries and speaks to the deepest yearnings of the human soul. God wants to honor us and His Word says so. All we have to do is love Him, abide in Him, and ask Him to help and honor us. We should rest our confidence and our authority on the promises of Jesus and Paul in the Bible. God always gives what's best and we should always pray with the confidence that what He gives may be different from what we ask, and yet good—even better.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
God is not a superhero | God doesn't just save us and disappear, He wants to have a daily relationship with us |
God is not a temple idol | We should ask how we can honour Him and bless others, not just ask for blessings |
God is not our butler | We shouldn't try to wrest control from God and instruct Him on what to do |
God is not a statue | We should pray with full assurance in our hearts that He will work out the best for us |
God is not a mute | We should pause to listen to God when we pray |
God is not our work supervisor | We don't have to justify ourselves and our prayers |
God wants to honour us | We are His children and He wants to drape His mantle of honour on us |
What You'll Learn
God hears and answers prayers, but only if they are in accordance with His will
The Bible says that God is not a "genie" who grants our wishes, but a loving Father who wants what is best for His children. In John 15:7, Jesus says, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." This verse does not mean that God will give us whatever we want, but that He will give us what we need according to His will.
So how do we know if our prayers are in line with God's will? One way is to spend time reading and studying the Bible, which is God's Word to us. The more we understand God's character and His promises, the better we can align our prayers with His will. Another way is to pray for wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit, who helps us pray according to God's will (Romans 8:26).
Additionally, we should examine our motives for praying. Are we praying with a sincere heart and a desire to honour God, or are we praying with selfish intentions? God desires for us to have a personal relationship with Him and to pray with faith and humility. He wants us to come to Him with our requests, but also to trust that He will give us what is best, even if it is different from what we expected.
When we pray according to God's will, we can have confidence that He hears us and will answer our prayers. This does not mean that every prayer will be answered in the way we want or expect. Sometimes God says "no" or "wait" because He has a better plan for us. Even in those times, we can trust that God is faithful and loves us deeply.
In conclusion, God hears and answers prayers that are in accordance with His will. This requires us to submit our desires and trust in His plan, even when it is different from what we want. By spending time in God's Word, praying for wisdom, and examining our motives, we can align our prayers with His will and experience the joy of seeing Him work in our lives.
God's Trials: Testing Our Faith and Resilience
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God does not give bad things to His children
Christians often wonder why they experience difficulties, trials, tragedy, and sadness in their lives on Earth, even after becoming followers of Jesus Christ and the children of God. The Bible does not assure believers that life on Earth will be trouble-free. In fact, it states the opposite:
> "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." — John 16:33
Believers are promised tribulations while they live on Earth, in part because the world is a fallen, sinful place where the enemy has dominion for a time. Moreover, because we are children of God, that enemy will make things difficult for us, leading us to disobey God.
> "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" — Matthew 7:11, King James Version (KJV)
This verse suggests that God, as our heavenly Father, will always give good things to His children. This is further supported by the following verse:
> "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." — Jeremiah 29:11
While God does not promise a life free of tribulation, He does promise to give us the strength and endurance to persevere through these trials.
> "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." — James 1:2-4
Through tribulations, God works on our behalf to develop our spiritual maturity and godly character. By persevering through trials, we become more resolved to obey and serve Christ, and our godly character inspires greater hope and anticipation of our eternal future in glory with Him.
While God allows believers to experience tribulations, He does not give bad things to His children. Instead, He gives good gifts that may be different from what we ask for but are ultimately for our good and His glory.
How Free is God's Will?
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God wants to honour you
Psalm 91:14-15 tells us:
> "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him."
God's honour is like a father's coat. His honour belongs to Him and Him alone. However, when you meet the conditions He lays out for you, it pleases Him to drape His mantle of honour on you.
- Honour God with your time. How are you using the precious time you have been given to glorify God?
- Honour God with your talents. These are your God-given gifts and abilities.
- Honour God with your temple. This means your body.
- Honour God with your treasure. This means your finances. As Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also".
- Honour God with your ticker. This means your heart. There are many Bible verses that encourage us to make God number one in our heart.
God wants to be the Lord of your life, not just with your words but also with your actions. He wants you to carve out time for Him and commit your best to Him.
How Faith and God are Intertwined
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God is not a superhero, a temple idol, a statue, or a mute
God is not a passive observer, uninvolved in the affairs of humanity. He is not silent or indifferent to our prayers and petitions. On the contrary, He is intimately involved in our lives and desires a personal relationship with each one of us. He hears our prayers and responds in ways that are ultimately for our good and His glory.
While God does not always answer our prayers in the way we expect or desire, He is not a genie granting wishes. His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. He sees the bigger picture that we cannot fully comprehend. When we pray, we must trust that He knows what is best for us, even when it doesn't align with our expectations.
God is not an idol to be kept on a shelf or a statue to be admired from a distance. He is a personal God who desires to be known and loved. He wants us to honor Him with our lives, not just our words. This means living according to His commandments, obeying His Word, and loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
God is not a mute statue that remains silent in the face of our prayers. He speaks to us through His Word, the Bible, and through the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. He guides us, teaches us, and transforms us from the inside out. He is a God of communication, who desires for us to have a deep and personal relationship with Him.
Faith Without God: Exploring Secular Spirituality
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God is not a butler or a work supervisor
God is not a butler, waiting on us hand and foot, and He is not a work supervisor, assessing our performance and productivity. We should not approach God with a list of demands, nor should we feel the need to justify ourselves and our prayers. God is not a genie in a lamp, ready to grant our wishes and fulfil our desires.
The Bible teaches that God is a loving Father, who wants to be in a personal relationship with us. He wants us to come to Him with our requests, but also to spend time with Him and get to know Him. He is not a distant, uninvolved deity, but a God who desires to be intimately involved in our lives.
When we pray, we should not be anxious or try to control the outcome. We should not treat God as a means to an end, but rather, recognise that He knows what is best for us. We can trust that He will provide for our needs and give us good gifts, even if it is not what we initially asked for or expected.
God is not a work supervisor, keeping track of our good and bad deeds, and He does not require us to earn His favour. Instead, He offers us grace and forgiveness, and He delights in blessing His children. We do not have to perform or achieve to be worthy of His love and attention.
Born with Faith: Is It a Divine Gift?
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Frequently asked questions
God knows what you will pray for even before you say anything. However, He still loves to hear you pray. The Bible says that if you ask anything according to His will, He hears you.
God's honour is like a father's coat that he lets his child wear. His honour belongs to Him and Him alone, but when we meet the conditions He lays out for us, He is pleased to share it.
Pray with the confidence that what God gives may be different from what you ask, and yet good — even better.