Prayer is concerned not only with the well-being of the one who prays. A vital aspect of its purpose is to allow the will of God to be done, and to bring glory and honour to his name.
True motives for prayer
The desire that God's name be honoured
Matthew 6:9–13 parallel Luke 11:2–4 See also Numbers 14:13–16; Joshua 7:7–9; 2 Samuel 7:25–26; 1 Kings 18:36–37; Psalm 115:1; John 17:1
So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
The desire that God's will be fulfilled
Matthew 6:9–13 parallel Luke 11:2–4 See also Matthew 26:39 parallels Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42; Matthew 26:42; Hebrews 10:7 Submission to God's will characterised Jesus Christ's prayer life.
So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
God answers prayer that accords with his will
And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.
Petitioners may enquire of God to discover his will
Psalm 143:10 See also Genesis 25:22–23; Judges 1:1–2; 2 Samuel 2:1; 1 Chronicles 14:14–15
Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
The Holy Spirit helps believers to pray in God's will
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
God's response to prayers allows believers to discern his will
2 Corinthians 12:7–9 See also Exodus 33:18–20; 2 Samuel 12:15–18; Job 19:7–8; Psalm 35:13–14
or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
God does not respond to the prayers of the wicked
John 9:31 See also Psalm 66:18; Proverbs 15:8; Isaiah 1:15, Isaiah 59:1–2; Lamentations 3:44; 1 Peter 3:12
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.