HOW CAN I PRAY WITH CONFIDENCE?

Before you read the devotional, I felt the Lord wanted me to ask everyone
to pray for the family of Charlie Kirk and especially his wife Erika, and
their two children.

A little about the devotionals:
God is the One who guides me and provides the content and scriptures,
so He deserves all the credit and praise. With that in mind, I’m sure He
is the One who guided me to request prayer for the Kirk family.

The devotional views are trending toward 400,000 for 2025 and are being
read in all 50 states and 120 foreign countries. If we all join in prayer for
this Godly family who has been devastated by Charlie’s assassination and
is hurting, we know that God will hear our prayers and comfort them as
only He can. Look at these words from Jesus:
    “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree
      about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by
      My Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in
      My name, there am I with them.”
      (Matthew 18:20)

We may not be gathered together physically, but we can be gathered
together spiritually as we pray for the family of our brother in Christ.

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we
ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if
we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that
we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
(1 John 5:14-15)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever struggled with confidence? You may know you
have the ability to do something, but you lack the complete
confidence that you can get it done, the way it needs to be done.

What about those times when you are not sure you can accomplish
something, but you have a friend who encourages you and convinces
you that you will succeed? It’s great to have that kind of friend isn’t
it? It’s also good to be that kind of friend to others.

It’s important to have confidence as a key component of our
relationship with God, wouldn’t you agree? We should have
complete confidence in Him when we are praying, but only if
we know that we are praying according to His will.

This raises some questions such as:
    How do I pray according to God’s will?
    What is God’s will for my life?
    How can I know His will for my life?

We need to understand that we can answer these questions
as we read the Bible and develop our relationship with God.
God’s will for us is revealed whenever we put Him in the
center of our lives. The world wants us to think that life is
all about us, but life is really about finding God’s will for us.

God didn’t create us to live out our lives serving us; He
created us to serve Him. We will discover His will when
we seek God and put Him first in our lives. And, when
we do, we will be able to say “No” to our selfish desires,
and “Yes” to what He asks of us.
    Seek the Lord while He may be found;
    call on Him while He is near.
    (Isaiah 55:6)

    And without faith it is impossible to please God,
    because anyone who comes to Him must believe
    that He exists and that He rewards those who
    earnestly seek Him.
    (Hebrews 11:6)

As believers, our lives should be focused on seeking God and
being a part of what He is doing. This means that some of us
will have to change our focus from selfishly living our lives our
way, and start including God in every facet of the things we do
and say.

For some, it may take us out of our comfort zone as we become a
part of God’s missionary work to reach the lost. It will also require
us to know the spiritual gift God gave us when we received salvation.
Why? Because we need to use the gift when we answer His call for us
to serve Him

If we are really committed to serving God where He has called us, most
of us will have to make a conscience effort to separate ourselves from
the things that displease Him, and embrace the righteousness He wants
to infuse into our lives.

God knew that living a new life as a follower of Jesus would be challenging
for us, so when He blesses us with salvation, He also equips us with a new
capability of answering His call for us to serve. He gives us at least one
spiritual gift, and the Holy Spirit (when we ask for His presence in our
lives). In addition, He begins a sanctification process in our lives.

“Sanctification” is not a word often used in daily conversations, but what
does it mean? It means God will begin to purge the unrighteousness in our
lives and replace it with a new righteousness that desires to please Him. It
is a process that might require painful discipline by God at times, but it will
be rewarding and we will ‘feel’ blessed as we realize how He is changing us.

Whenever we develop a God directed life, we will have a greater faith
and confidence in our prayers. Why? Because when He is a part of our
lives, we will know how to pray according to His will.

ACTION:
How is your relationship with the Lord? Are you a
“me seeker”, or have you become a “God seeker”?
How much have you included Him in all you do?

Are you still charting your own course, or have you
asked God to direct your paths, and allowed Him to
have control and guide you?
    I will instruct you and teach you in the way
    you should go; I will counsel you with My
    loving eye on you.
    (Psalms 32:8)

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, You are the One who gives me confidence
in all things. Whenever You are a part of my life, and guiding
me in my decisions and all that I do, I know that I am on the
correct road of living life at its best. I also know that my prayer
requests will align with Your will, instead of centering them on
my own selfish desires. Forgive me if I have not allowed You to
rightfully be in control of my life. May I bring glory to You in
all that I say and do.”

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