For so long a time I was frustrated with my walk with God. I found myself being angry with Him and disappointed in His lack of response. It seemed as though what I read in His Word didn't work and it was difficult to stay faithful to my prayer time and study. I finally came to a place in my Christian walk where I had to make a choice about my walk with Him. I could fall into a place where all of my efforts were useless and it didn't matter if I prayed or not or I could find out why my prayer life was messed up.
After some time of seeking God about this, I found out some things that changed how my walk would be different forever. Have you ever been frustrated by your prayer time? Or did it seem like things in the Word weren't working? I believe that if we were to be honest about it, then most of us have.
I found that my prayers weren't there to change God, but to agree with Him so as to change things here. In 1 John 5:14-15 (Amplified) we read that< "This is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him; (we are sure) that if we ask anything (make our request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan) He listens to and hears us." Verse 15 continues, "And if (since) we (positively) know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know (with settled and absolute knowledge) that we have (granted us as our present possessions) the requests made of Him."
Knowing what His will was in any certain matter, determined if I would have Him hear me or not. I could pray the old standby prayer of, "O, Lord, if this be Thy will" or I could search the scriptures to find out what His will was concerning any particular thing before I prayed. If I was praying about someone being saved, then I could find the promises that John 3:16 was His will concerning salvation (as well as other scriptures) so I could pray with certainty that He hears me and that He and I were in agreement.
Now, I had confidence in my prayer time as I found out that I wasn't just reading my Bible because "that's what I'm supposed to do," but to seek His will and heart on any subject before I pray. I found that this wasn't just scripture, but promise to me. The greatest promise I found after I was saved came like a glimpse into scripture in a new way.
I came on Colossians 1:9-11 (Amplified) in the realization that this was a prayer that the Holy Spirit gave to Paul for us. This prayer that was prayed wasn't just for them but for the Church so we could know God's will and purpose for our lives. He wanted us to know His heart so we could pray with boldness and faith. Listen to this prayer that was prayed for you through the Apostle Paul by the Holy Spirit.
Colossians 1;9-11 (Amplified) says that, "For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it." Verse 9 says, "Your Love Have not ceased to pray and make (special) request for you, (asking) that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom (in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things." Verse 10 continues, "that you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God (with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance and recognition)." Verse 11 goes on, "(we pray) that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, (to exercise) every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy."
I found out that John said "if we ask according to His will" and I found out that Colossians 1;9 said that "the Holy Spirit was praying through the Apostle Paul that we be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will." This is a prayer that's still out there on the heart of God and the faith of the Holy Spirit for God's people to receive.
Church, this isn't just scripture to read, but prayer to receive the Holy Spirit bringing us into oneness with Him in the Father. This prayer in Colossians 9-11 is just as valid for us to partake of as the scripture in Romans 10:8-10 about salvation. We need to set our hearts to receive this promise of God as we would every other promise. He doesn't want us to be ignorant of His will, but to know and come into the knowledge of it.
Jesus prayed in John 17:18 (Amplified) "Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. In Verse 20 Jesus said, "Neither for these alone do I pray (it is not for their sakes only that I make this request) but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word and teaching." This is for us now, as well as for those then.
We're supposed to listen and to seek the Father through His Word and the Holy Spirit so that we know His will and can pray with confidence and assurance that our prayers are heard. Jesus knew the will and heart of His Father and so should we. It shouldn't be a guessing game about what to pray.
Don't base it on how you may feel about it or how someone else may feel about it. Believe this prayer in Colossians was heard and answered and is now valid for you and you can know with confidence that you are heard.
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