When you pray, God is not simply interested in hearing a list of things you want. He wants your heart to come into agreement with His will. Jesus taught you to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). As a young person, you may have dreams about your education, career, relationships, finances, ministry and future, and there is nothing wrong with bringing these desires before God. However, you must learn to surrender your desires to His wisdom. You do not see everything God sees, and you do not know everything He knows. When you pray, learn to say, “Father, this is what I desire, but I trust You enough to let Your will prevail.” If God answered every prayer exactly as you requested, would the results always be good for your future?
You may sometimes pray from your emotions rather than from spiritual understanding. When you are hurt, you may ask God to punish someone. When you fall in love, you may ask God to give you a particular person without asking whether that relationship is part of His purpose for your life. When you are desperate for success, you may ask God for opportunities without considering whether you have the character to handle them. Romans 8:26 teaches that the Holy Spirit helps you in your weakness because you do not always know what you should pray for. This should give you confidence to approach God honestly. You can tell Him what you feel while still allowing the Holy Spirit to purify your desires. Instead of pretending that you know exactly what you need, learn to pray, “Holy Spirit, help me pray according to the Father's will.” What are you currently asking God to give you that you have not truly surrendered to Him?
Your prayer life should also be shaped by the Word of God. Jesus' model prayer teaches you to prioritize God's name, God's kingdom, God's will, daily provision, forgiveness and protection from evil. Your prayers should therefore go beyond asking for money, relationships, academic success, popularity or opportunities. Pray for wisdom when you are confused, discipline when you are distracted, purity when you are tempted, courage when you are afraid, forgiveness when you fail and strength to fulfill your assignment. You need more than God's gifts; you need God's character formed in you. The Holy Spirit wants to help you become the person who can faithfully carry what you are asking God to give you. If God answered your prayers today, would your character be strong enough to sustain the blessing?
When you are praying about a major decision, learn to slow down instead of allowing pressure to control you. Pray, study Scripture, listen to the Holy Spirit, seek mature godly counsel and examine your motives. God will never lead you contrary to His Word. The Holy Spirit will not lead you into sexual immorality, dishonesty, manipulation, revenge, pride or rebellion. Sometimes God will answer you with “yes.” Sometimes the answer will be “no,” and sometimes it will be “wait.” Your spiritual maturity is revealed when you can trust God even when His answer is different from what you wanted. Do you trust God enough to accept His “no” when your emotions are demanding a “yes”?
As a young believer, you are being trained to walk with Jesus, not merely to receive things from Him. The Holy Spirit invites you into fellowship with the Father and teaches you how to pray according to God's purpose. Begin your prayer with surrender: “Father, let Your kingdom come and Your will be done in my life.” Bring your desires before Him honestly, but leave the final decision in His hands. Pray with Scripture, listen to the Holy Spirit, examine your motives and remain willing to obey. Remember that prayer is not about making God conform to your plans; prayer brings your heart into alignment with His plans. What would change in your life if, every time you prayed, you sincerely asked, “Lord Jesus, what is Your will for me, and how can I cooperate with the Holy Spirit to fulfill it?”
Hope Expression Values You
Hope Expression Values You
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