Prayer that Pleases Him

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 (NKJV)

Nothing lies outside of the reach of prayer except that which is outside of the will of God. God answers the requests that He inspires. Thus, we need a good working knowledge of Scripture.

So when I pray for provision, I might say, "Lord, You have told us in Your Word that You will supply all of our needs according to Your riches and glory in Christ Jesus. . . ." (see Philippians 4:19.) Am I saying this to educate God, as though He would say, "Well, I didn't know that! That is good stuff"? No. I am reminding myself of what the Bible says. And I am basing my prayer request on a promise of Scripture. It also bolsters my faith, because I am asking God to answer a prayer in which I have quoted Scripture.

The apostles quoted Scripture when they prayed: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: 'Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? . . .' " (Acts 4:25-26).

Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7). Another way to translate this would be, "If you maintain a living communion with Me, and My words are at home in you, you shall ask at once for yourself whatever your heart desires, and it will be yours."

God is not a genie who will answer every request we make. But God will answer our prayers if we are maintaining a living communion with Him and His Word is at home in us--because we will be asking what He wants us to ask for.