How to Pray for God’s Will

The best prayer that a Christian can offer is praying God’s will. In 1 John 5:14-15, it is written that we will have confidence that God will hear our prayers and that He shall answer them when we pray for God’s will. But how do we know what God’s will is? We know God’s will by reading the Scriptures, which is the very Word of God. That is why, if you want to hear from God and know what His will is, you should consult God’s Word. The Bible tells us that the Scriptures are God-breathed. If you are praying for a spouse and want to know if someone is God’s will for you, read your Bible. The Bible says that he/she should be a fellow believer. If they are not a Christian, then it only means that they are not God’s will for you. You can also pray to God for wisdom as you discern whether someone among Christian believers is indeed someone you should marry.

Asking God for wisdom is also something God wants us to do. If you are considering a job offer, you can also check if it is God’s will—if the job is not something evil or illegal, glorifies God, and aids in your sanctification. If not, then it is not God’s will. In other words, before we pray to do God’s will, we have to know what His will is first, which can only be known through reading the Scriptures. But reading alone is not enough; we have to properly read and understand Scripture so we don’t take His Word out of context and forcefully fit it in with what we want to believe. It is we who adjust to God and not the other way around.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

1 John 5:14-15

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Why do we pray for God’s will?

We pray for God’s will because, first, it is how Christ has taught us to pray. In Matthew 6:9-10, Jesus taught His disciples how to pray. Jesus taught us to pray for God’s kingdom to come here on earth and for His will to be done. But what did Jesus mean by that? Isn’t God all-powerful and sovereign? Of course, He is. To understand how prayer works, we have to know that God’s will can be divided into two kinds. First, we have the directive will of God. It is something that will happen, no matter what, because God has decreed it in His sovereignty. 

The second kind is the perceptive will of God. Those are the things that He approves of and are right in His eyes. For example, it is God’s will for us to live sexually pure lives. If you look at the world, people are sinning sexually everywhere. That is why we pray for God’s will to be done; we pray for people to live sexually pure lives. Given how sinful people are, they will always go against the perceptive will of God. Just take a look at the world today. But no matter what they do to rebel against God, God’s directive will never be affected. They can rebel against God all they want, but whatever God decrees to come shall come. For example, Jonah tried to run away from God because he didn’t want to go to Nineveh. In the end, he still ended up there. 

We pray for God’s will to be done because we want His kingdom to come. When we pray for God’s will to be done and for people to submit to it, we want people to submit to it with a regenerated heart. Submission to God’s will is not forced or done out of religiosity, but it’s a matter of repentance and submission to Christ. Only that way can people experience God’s kingdom.

Psalm 115:3

But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

Proverbs 19:21

There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

Matthew 6:9-10

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Ephesians 1:1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

When it comes to the concerns that we have, it means that no matter what we pray, we are always to acknowledge that, in the end, it is not our will that is to be done but God’s. It is not a “name it, claim it” mindset but rather a “submission to God” kind of mindset. This truth is in the Scriptures themselves. In Luke 22:39–44, Jesus was praying in the garden of Gethsemane. He was praying to God that the cup He would soon endure may be taken away from Him if possible. The cup there is the cup of God’s wrath; Christ paying for our sins on the cross. Jesus did not want to take the cup of God’s wrath, but in the end, He prayed that not His will but the Father’s will be done. That is the kind of prayer that we should always pray toward God. Yes, we can pray for a salary increase, a breakthrough in something, and healing. But in the end, it’s not about our will, but God’s. 

Faith is about trusting and submitting to God, His sovereignty, and His infinite wisdom. Whatever we go through in life, whether they are good things or bad things, God can use them for the good of those who love Him. Biblical Christianity is having joy in Christ and gratitude toward God no matter what storm we are in, knowing that God can use even the hardest thing in life to carry out good things. Christ’s death was something terrible. It was evil. Christ was innocent, yet the Pharisees and the crowd put Him to death. Yet, God allowed it, and because of that, something good came out of it—our salvation. We can trust our Father, Who loves us and Whose thoughts and ways are higher than ours. 

Luke 22:39–44

39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

How do I pray for God’s will?

You pray for God’s will by first knowing His will by reading Your Bible. If there is much protesting, crime, and chaos where you are, you can pray for peace, which is God’s will. But most of all, you should pray for people to know Christ because real peace can be found in Christ alone. If you are a son or daughter, you can pray God’s will by praying for God’s grace always to help you honor, love, and respect your parents. Praying God’s will is praying according to the Scriptures. That is why if you have an enemy, you don’t pray for misfortune upon them but blessings because that is what God wills for us to do. Some concerns are not specific in the Scriptures. For example, you are praying for more sales in your business. You will never find any verse in the Bible that talks about sales. In such cases, pray whatever your concern or request is to God, but in the end, pray that it won’t be your will but God’s will that is to be done. 

Here is an example of how you can pray for God’s will to be done:

Sovereign Lord, You sit upon Your throne and do what You please. I pray that Christ shall always be the greatest treasure of my heart and that my delight is not on earthly wealth but with You. Help me be generous and always use the resources You have given me to bless others. I pray for a promotion in my job but, in the end, let it not be my will, Father, but Yours that is done. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

God is king. He is the Almighty, Who sits on the throne. Servants don’t go to a king and “demand” things because they want them. Instead, they submit in humility because they are but humble servants. A biblical prayer stems from humility before God – Who sits on the throne of grace – and submits to His infinite wisdom.