CAN YOU TOUCH GOD IN PRAYER?

All of us have pain, needs or prayers that we want answered. Often our prayers are no more than vague wishes. Sometimes they are specific cries. Too many times, they are not answered. But Jesus said ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened. (Matt. 7:7) He said God loves to give good gifts to his children. He said to pray and not give up. He said if we ask anything in his name he will do it. So why doesn’t it always seem to work? I don’t know. But here are a few things I do know from the Bible and some things I’ve found to work from my experience.

KNOWING GOD’S WILL IS IMPORTANT

Jesus shared the reason he was able to heal and do miraculous things on behalf of God. It wasn’t because he was God. He actually says, “the Son can do nothing by himself; he can only do what he sees his Father doing.” Jn 5:19. Jesus spent time in prayer and listening to the Father and he knew that when he was acting, or commanding, or praying that he was doing what the Father wanted. If you know something is God’s will, you can pray with boldness.

KNOWING YOUR AUTHORITY IS CRITICAL

Sometimes God doesn’t answer our prayers because he wants us to learn to use our authority ourselves. When Jesus sent out his disciples, he gave them authority to heal the sick and cast out demons. He gives us the same authority to act on his behalf: “in his name”. It’s like a credit card we are authorized to use to get stuff done. If you are truly authorized by Jesus (and you are if you are a disciple who is walking with him – see below) you can simply command things that you know are God’s will. Practice on little stuff. But understand your authority.

STAYING CLOSE TO JESUS IS CRUCIAL

Jesus said if we remain in him and he in us we can bear fruit and he will answer our prayers, but not apart from him. If you are in sin or you are disconnected from Jesus, don’t expect answers. Stay connected.