The Truth About God’s Will & Claiming Prayers

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Jesus told His disciples…

“And if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Matthew 21:22 (CSB)

Other translations say…

“Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (NKJV)
“You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” (NLT)
“Whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith and [really] believing, you will receive.” (AMPC)

That verse has prompted a movement of people who promote claiming prayer also called “name it and claim it.”

The Life Application Notes add this about claiming prayer…

“This verse is not a guarantee that we can get anything we want simply by asking Jesus and believing … our prayers must be in harmony with the principles of God’s Kingdom.”

Our prayers must be in line with God’s will.

That is the example Jesus set for us. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed…

“My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Matthew 26:39

Jesus not only believed … He KNEW. Jesus was and is ONE with the Father. Jesus is God.

“The Father and I are one.”

John 10:30

He could have saved Himself but He chose to save you and me.

He gave us the perfect truth about claiming prayer and God’s truth. Our Father invites us to bring everything to Him in prayer and it is our faith that prompts us to pray.

Look at the account of Jesus and the father of the demon-possessed boy…

[The father asked Jesus], “Have mercy on us and help us, if You can.”
“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

Mark 9:22–24

I don’t know why God says “yes” to healing prayers sometimes and not others, but I do know that you and I can trust His will. He sees the big picture. He knows the past, present, and future. He knows the lives that are being touched by our stories.

He KNOWS and we can trust His LOVE.

Imagine what our lives would be like if the Father had said “yes” to Jesus’ prayer in the Garden. Imagine what that would have meant for you and me.

So, let’s pray in faith … faith that surrenders itself to the One who KNOWS and LOVES perfectly forever and always.

A Prayer About Claiming Prayers and God’s Will

Father, thank you for inviting us to “come and talk” with You. Thank you for hearing my prayers. And thank you for telling us to “pray without ceasing.”

You encourage us to pray about everything and promise that You will give us everything we need because of Your unfailing love. Please forgive us for listening to the enemy’s lies twisting Your Word to meet our selfish desires.

You encourage us to come to You with all our wants and needs and tell us that because of Your love, You will provide what is best even when it’s not what we want.

By the power of Your Spirit, please help me faithfully and humbly pray, “Your will be done.” Help me surrender my all to You so I might trust and obey Your commands. By Your grace, make me more like Jesus.

Remove my doubts and grant me the peace and strength I need. I love You, Lord. I trust Your promises and with Your help … I will trust Your perfect will. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

The wonderful news is that you and I can claim God’s promises through faith in Jesus.

Promises like…

“Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

Now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. (Romans 8:1–2)

“When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” (John 14:3)

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39)

Those are just a few of God’s many promises. We can trust Him. And when we trust Him, like Jesus, we will trust His will.

Jesus could have saved Himself but because He loved us … He chose to save us.

When we’re tempted to pray a claiming prayer insisting that God give us what we desire, let’s follow Jesus’ example and trust that our Father knows the end from the beginning and that His will is always best even when it’s what we desire.

Let’s approach the throne of grace confident that our Father hears us and loves us. And let’s conclude every prayer humbly by saying, “Yet, I want Your will to be done, not mine.”

May the Lord help you as you surrender Your heart and each day to His perfect will.

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