HOW CAN PRAYER BE LESS FRUSTRATING? (12 OF 12)
Scripture: 1 John 5:14-21
This content is part of a series.
How Can Prayer Be Less Frustrating? (12 of 12)
Series: Authentic
Jonathan McLeod
1 John 5:14-21
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that 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 have the requests that we have asked of him (vv. 14-15).
FRUSTRATION WITH PRAYER
Sometimes the biblical promises about prayer can cause us frustration because they don't match up with our experience. One of these prayer promises is found in 1 John 5:14-15: ''And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that 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 have the requests that we have asked of him.''
How can prayer be less frustrating?
FOUR REALITIES OF PRAYER
There isn't an easy formula for prayer. When we pray, we should remember four realities of prayer.
1. When we pray, we should remember that it's NORMAL to be frustrated with prayer.
There are many biblical examples of people who were frustrated with prayer. One of these people was the prophet Habakkuk. The book of Habakkuk begins with the prophet complaining to God about unanswered prayer: ''O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you, 'Violence!' and you will not save?'' (Hab. 1:2). Sometimes it's encouraging to dis-cover that other people struggle like us. (We're not happy about the struggles of others, but we are happy to know we're not abnormal.)
2. When we pray, we should remember that we're approaching a LOVING FATHER.
Throughout 1 John, John has emphasized that believers are God ...
Series: Authentic
Jonathan McLeod
1 John 5:14-21
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that 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 have the requests that we have asked of him (vv. 14-15).
FRUSTRATION WITH PRAYER
Sometimes the biblical promises about prayer can cause us frustration because they don't match up with our experience. One of these prayer promises is found in 1 John 5:14-15: ''And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that 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 have the requests that we have asked of him.''
How can prayer be less frustrating?
FOUR REALITIES OF PRAYER
There isn't an easy formula for prayer. When we pray, we should remember four realities of prayer.
1. When we pray, we should remember that it's NORMAL to be frustrated with prayer.
There are many biblical examples of people who were frustrated with prayer. One of these people was the prophet Habakkuk. The book of Habakkuk begins with the prophet complaining to God about unanswered prayer: ''O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you, 'Violence!' and you will not save?'' (Hab. 1:2). Sometimes it's encouraging to dis-cover that other people struggle like us. (We're not happy about the struggles of others, but we are happy to know we're not abnormal.)
2. When we pray, we should remember that we're approaching a LOVING FATHER.
Throughout 1 John, John has emphasized that believers are God ...
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