That we may know our prayers are answered. We have confidence God hears our prayers. (GR “confidence” means speaking openly, freely, and boldly.) The assurance of asking and answered prayer is knowing God’s will. Q: How do we pray according to God’s will? Seems very simple and straightforward. Ask according to God’s will, He hears, He answers our request. The hard part is discerning God’s will. God’s will is recorded in the Bible. What are the two items people pray about the most? I think it’s physical healing and unsaved family members.
What is God’s will for healing? The LORD has not promised the alleviation of all suffering in this life and that includes disease. The LORD has promised mercy. It is the LORD’s nature to be merciful. So, I always ask for mercy. [Exodus 34:6-7: 6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”] Psalm 86:15: But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Pray Psalm 30:8-10:
To you, O Lord, I cry,
and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
9 “What profit is there in my death,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!
O Lord, be my helper!”
Pray Hebrews 4:14-16: 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. The GR word for “weakness” includes sickness and disease, not just weakness in the face of temptation. Disease is a temptation to doubt God’s goodness.
We will all be healed in heaven. My wife was instantly healed the moment she took her last breath.
What is God’s will for unsaved family members? While driving down here I passed a ranch and the ranch gate said, “Acts 16:31 Ranch”. I didn’t know the scripture. I looked it up later. Acts 16:31: Paul & Silas said to the Philippian jailer, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” To be fair the jailer asked how to be saved. Your lost relatives may not be asking that. (GR household = oikos = anyone in the house.) Ask Jesus to save your oikos. Are you willing to pray, “Lord, do whatever it takes to save my oikos.” The Lord can allow an accident or disease to get their attention. If a family member believes just before being taken off life support, then PTL! I have had this happen while serving as a chaplain. I was called to a patient’s bedside who wanted all life support removed with comfort care only. He wanted to make sure he was going to heaven. I shared the Gospel in his ear and asked him to pray in his head because he could not speak. He received Christ. He died later that night and entered eternal life.
