Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. - 1 John 5:14

Too many women become distressed and angry with God over this one issue-prayer. When prayers go unanswered, many of us utter accusations to God. I thought You cared? Why is this happening to me? Are You there? We wonder if God even exists, much less that He cares. I wonder if Jesus was feeling the same way in the Garden of Gethsemane? He pleaded to His Father before being taken to the cross to have His fate be taken from Him. Yet His Father said no. What happens when God says no to your plea? Have you recently been angry at God, or perhaps even turned away from God because a prayer or petition went unanswered? Whether we admit it or not, we have all become angry at God for not coming through for us the way we wanted Him to. Yet our anger is unjustified. This sounds harsh, but when we truly realize and come to understand the truth that God knows infinitely and abundantly more than we can even imagine, and that He truly does love us, we can come to accept His answer to our prayer because He truly does know best. Jesus knew His Father had his best interest in mind when He said no to Jesus plea. Knowing not just in his mind, but also in His heart that His Father would protect Him, He prayed a prayer we all need to learn. Jesus prayed, Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done (Luke 22:42). When we come to trust in our hearts that God really does care enough to protect us, we can truly pray nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done. We cannot take 1 John 5:14 out of context. The promise that we will have whatever we ask is not a blank check. Believers cannot merely pray for anything and then get it. The context refers to prayers according to His will. In other words, when we pray, we seek Gods will in the matter. We make our requests, but we submit ourselves to Gods wisdom about what we should have. We know that when we pray, God hears and will answer in the best way possible. In Christ's love, Julie

Prayer

We're not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be. - C.S. Lewis

• Bible Readings for the Week Ahead:
• Monday: Luke 22:42
• Tuesday: 1 John 5:14
• Wednesday: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
• Thursday: 1 Peter 2:13-17
• Friday: Mark 3:31-35
• Saturday: Romans 1:8-17
• Sunday: James 4:13-17