God's will for you
Thursday 18th October 2018
'If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.' 1 John 5:14 NIV
When you were younger, did you ever make a wish as you watched a shooting star or blew out your birthday candles? It's something we can still find ourselves saying: 'I wish my life was like this', or 'I wish this would happen'. The problem with wishing on a star or on candles is that they have no power to make our dreams come true. But God does have that power. So, when your wishes become prayers that line up with his will, they can become a reality. 'And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for' (1 John 5:14-15 NLT).
So how do we know God's 'will': what pleases him and aligns with his character? We need to spend time with him, pray, read his Word. Then we'll know his heart and promises for us, and we'll see his answers to our wishes.
But even when your 'wishes' are in line with God's will, you need faith: to open your eyes to see that God's promises are for you personally; and to draw the fulfilment of his promises into your life.
So what now? Next time one of your friends has a birthday, ask if they have a prayer that they want to see fulfilled. Get them to blow out the candles on their cake, but instead of wishing, ask everyone in the room to pray about that thing.
Thursday 18th October 2018
'If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.' 1 John 5:14 NIV
When you were younger, did you ever make a wish as you watched a shooting star or blew out your birthday candles? It's something we can still find ourselves saying: 'I wish my life was like this', or 'I wish this would happen'. The problem with wishing on a star or on candles is that they have no power to make our dreams come true. But God does have that power. So, when your wishes become prayers that line up with his will, they can become a reality. 'And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for' (1 John 5:14-15 NLT).
So how do we know God's 'will': what pleases him and aligns with his character? We need to spend time with him, pray, read his Word. Then we'll know his heart and promises for us, and we'll see his answers to our wishes.
But even when your 'wishes' are in line with God's will, you need faith: to open your eyes to see that God's promises are for you personally; and to draw the fulfilment of his promises into your life.
So what now? Next time one of your friends has a birthday, ask if they have a prayer that they want to see fulfilled. Get them to blow out the candles on their cake, but instead of wishing, ask everyone in the room to pray about that thing.
