Wisdom for living: Your prayers are not superior to God’s word

By Tope Banso
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7 New King James Version).
Many Christians are yet to realize that their prayers are not superior to the Word of God. What you want to tell God is not more important than what He wants to tell you. In fact, if you’ll listen to what God wants to tell you, you may not need to tell Him what you’re so eager to tell Him!
If you’ll read, study and listen attentively to the Word of God and meditate on it and obey, you’ll have fewer prayer points to pray! God’s Word will provide answers to the issues bothering you. Don’t rush to pray; listen to God first.
Prayer is very important, but many times, people ask amiss when they don’t know the Word of God. If you ask contrary to the Word of God, God won’t violate His Word to grant your requests. There are prayers that God will never answer! For example, God won’t grant any request borne out of covetousness, envy, etc.
Jesus says if you abide in Him, and His words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7). Wise people spend much time hearing, studying and meditating on the Word of God. They obey Him, showing their regard for Him. They pray with the correct knowledge of the Word of God. Their prayer and fasting is based on the Word of God. Their prayers are thus effective.
This year, make sure you don’t pray ignorantly. Live and pray in accordance with God’s Word. Don’t let your prayer and fasting be in vain, because you’ve failed to listen to God.
If you want God to have regard for your prayer, have regard for His Word. It’s not your long prayer list or all your physical actions in the place of prayer that will bring you answers. God will, and the Bible has already stated the conditions for answered prayers.
Here are some: Delight yourself in the LORD (Psalm 37:4). Abide in the LORD and let His Word abide in you (John 15:7-8). Obey His Word (1 John 3:22; Proverbs 28:9). Forgive others (Mark 11:25-26). Ask according to God’s will (1 John 5:14-15). Ask in the name of Jesus (John 14:13-14). Ask in faith (Mark 11:22-24; Matthew 21:21-22). Be specific (Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43). Have right motives (James 4:3). Don’t harbor sin in your heart (Psalm 66:18). Pray in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:8). Help the hungry and the afflicted (Isaiah 58:7-10). Be persistent and patient (Luke 18:1-8).
In 1 Samuel 3:10b, Samuel answered God, “Speak, for Your servant hears” (New King James Version). Pay attention to the Word of God; don’t offer the prayers of a fool! Don’t be too eager to say, “Lord, hear for your servant speaks” when you’ve not first said, “Lord, speak for your servant hears.” Ecclesiastes 5:1a says, “As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut!” (New Living Translation)
PRAYER POINT: Father, help me to devote much time to Your Word and pray prayers You’ll answer.
This is wisdom for living, and it’s worth sharing. Please share.
(For more inspiring messages, visit: www.cedarministry.org).
▪Banso, an Abuja-based minister, heads
Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria; and can be reached at
cedarministryintl@yahoo.com, cedarministryng@gmail.com
Tel No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947