The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Panorama City, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 1358, titled "How to Pray."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. Copyright 2001 by John MacArthur Jr., All Rights Reserved.

Question

On asking "in the will of God," do you kind of tack that one on like, "in Jesus' name?" Or, you know, like some people, every time they pray, they go, "Lord, if it's Your will," and kind of got the idea that they really don't think it is, but they're going to pray it anyways. Would you explain what you mean by "asking in the will of God?"

Answer

By asking in the will of God I think you are acknowledging that whatever God would want to do would be best. Now in a very practical sense there may be sometimes when God gives you what you ask, even though it isn't the best. Illustration number one would be Saul. The people kept begging God over and over and over and over for a king and they got one and he was a "bummer." And it was God's way of saying, "you're better off to do it My way to start with." So it may be that one way God could teach us a lesson would be to give us what we want. But we really don't want that. In your prayer, honestly and objectively, you really do want God's will, because God's will is the best thing, so I think that's the idea of it.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
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