Why Can’t I Declare My Will When I Pray?
Welcome to Living Word Cast!
I’m Pastor Michael Chilcott, coming to you from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This podcast exists to proclaim, teach, and explore the Word of God together. Our goal is to provide sound theological and biblical guidance on all things Scripture, helping you grow deeper in your understanding of the Bible and your relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Whether you’re seeking answers, encouragement, or a closer walk with God, this podcast is here to help you stay firmly rooted in the truth of God’s Word.
Today’s topic is “Why Can’t I Declare My Will When I Pray?” Now, this is a question that many Christians ask when they encounter the idea of prayer. It’s easy to think that prayer is about asking for what we want or even declaring our own desires. But, as we’ll see, the Bible calls us to something different.
Key Scriptures:
Matthew 6:10
James 4:13-15
Romans 8:27
1 John 5:14-15
Let’s dive right in, starting with one of the most famous prayers in the Bible: The Lord’s Prayer. In Matthew 6:10, Jesus teaches us to pray:
Matthew 6:10 (ESV):"Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
This line is central to understanding prayer as Jesus taught it. Jesus, the Son of God, did not pray for His own will to be done, but for God’s will to be done. This is a clear indication that our prayers are not about asserting our own desires or demanding things from God. Instead, they should be about submitting to the will of God.
But why is this so important? It’s because God is sovereign, meaning He is in control of all things. He knows what is best for us, even when we might not understand it in the moment. When we pray, we are called to align ourselves with His perfect will, which is always good, pleasing, and perfect (Romans 12:2). This takes us to our next scripture in James.
