Praying in His will

After 44 years of marriage, I’m far better at anticipating what my husband wants, is going to do, what he will say. I better understand his ideas on most topics and issues. Even with the usual husband/wife misunderstandings, he has become better at communicating himself to me, perhaps because I’ve become a better listener. I’ve also learned something about timing rather than asking important questions when he is busy with something else.

Chambers didn’t use the marriage relationship as an illustration, but he parallels it by saying the more unity I have in my relationship with Jesus, the greater my understanding of His will and what He is doing. Certainly that involves being a better listener. It also involves timing.

“In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:23–24)

“In that day” refers to the union of God’s people with Jesus Christ, made possible by His death, resurrection, and ascension. With His life in my life, I first had lots of questions, but the more I realize my union with Him, the less I ask and the more I simply trust. Chambers calls this “the place of entire reliance on the resurrection life of Jesus,” a reliance that brings me into a “perfect contact” with God’s purposes.

I don’t think I am totally there yet, but I do know that I ask fewer questions, and when I ask in the name of Jesus, I have greater confidence in God’s answers. Part of this is because He helps me understand what is going on and how I can pray to fit in with what is going on. Even if I don’t know and all seems dark, I am far better able to trust Him anyway because I am certain that He is good, He is involved, and His will is going to happen.

Chambers’ challenge involves listening and timing. If anything is a mystery and it comes between me and God, then it isn’t because I’m stupid or ignorant. I need to pay attention and consider the reasons I’m not able to grasp His will or at least trust Him even if I cannot figure out what He is doing.

As Chambers says, the solution is looking for the areas of my life that are not submitted to the Lord Jesus Christ. If I’ve not come to a place of total trust, how then can I ask anything in His name? Jesus makes it clear that when I sense a distance, it is not God who moved away. He also made clear that when there is no distance between the Father and His child (because we are made one), then in that day I will ask Him no questions and trust will come easily.

My issue is recognizing when I am out of harmony and getting that taken care of before praying and expecting to receive from Him.

The best time to pray

Saturday often challenges my habit of prayer. Yesterday was a challenge. I prayed it bits and pieces, then longer later in the afternoon, but the entire day bore evidence of not making prayer a priority.

Selwyn Hughes says, “If you fix your prayer time at the end of the day, then it will be backward looking. If you fix it at the beginning of the day, it will be forward looking.”

In Matthew, Jesus said, “Rise, let us be going” not “Now I lay me down to sleep.” Not that evening prayer is wrong, but the words said then will be different when they end a day that began with prayer. I know this, for every time I miss or scrimp on morning prayer, the day is like all of it was put in a blender. What a mix-up. Far better to wash my heart and mind in the presence of Christ before I face the challenges of each day . . . as the people in the Bible continually verify . . .

The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. (Isaiah 50:4)

Prayer is preparation. When all burdens are given to the Lord, He settles me so that whatever comes my way is easier to deal with. I know how to answer questions and meet needs, and they are not distractions but opportunities.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1:1–3)

Things go better when I pray first. My computer does not act up. I can find things. Telemarketers leave me alone. I know what to say to those who call with pressing problems. I don’t forget what time it is and make meals before stomachs are growling. God seems to put me in a cloud of protection after I pray. My studies are also easier. I understand what He is saying to me in all that reading and through the online lectures. Prayer is the way He plows up the hard soil and prepares me to receive and gain from His Word, rather than feel frantic and be distracted by so much to do . . .

As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty. (Matthew 13:23)

Aside from the schedule of praying first, it seems totally foolish to not pray when I consider the promises Jesus makes about prayer. He says, “If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:14) and “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7) and “In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:23–24)

Asking in His name is not a magical incantation stuck on the end of a prayer (although that is often the way it is used). Instead, it is realizing that I cannot stand on praying ground on my own. My sinful life has no business with God apart from the grace I enjoy in Jesus Christ. He is my Savior and my God, the One in whom I come. He represents me before the throne of God, but I also speak as His child, His ambassador, His bride when I come before the throne of God. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

By thinking about who I am in Christ, and about His promises to answer prayer in His name, and about the way He blesses each day, then beginning it with prayer becomes the only logical thing to do. It is the first response to a loving and gracious Savior — who is always awake at heaven’s eternal dawn interceding for me.