Pray it Specifically

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. (1 John 5:14-15)

John made a point of using the word “confidence.” It is a bold assurance and settled certainty that something will happen. John, knowing Jesus’ personality, was absolutely confident that He would hear you. And since He hears you, you already have what you asked for. But this confidence is conditional. The request must be in accordance with His will. That phrase stops most people because they do not know what God's will is in a given area. So they pray vaguely, hoping they are somewhere in the neighborhood of His will, and wonder why their prayers lack power. The answer is not to pray longer or louder. The answer is to know His will well enough to pray it specifically.

The Word of God is the will of God. That is its primary purpose: to explain to you what His will is. When you pray according to the Word of God, you can pray confidently that you are in His will. There is another thing connected to prayer that believers often miss: time. This is not about a “Thank you, Lord, bless my kids and me in Jesus name, amen.” That is not prayer. That is a religious phrase that asks God to do something without telling Him what you mean. God responds to specificity because specificity reveals faith. When you pray specifically, according to the Word of God, you demonstrate that you have thought about what you are asking and that you actually believe it will happen.

The Holy Ghost will guide you into what to pray for others as well. But what He reveals to you in that place is between you and Him. It is not for broadcasting to others to prove you are hearing from God. When you start using revelation to impress people, God will stop giving it to you. The secret place of prayer is called secret for a reason.

Practical Application

Replace one vague prayer you pray regularly with a specific, Word-based declaration today. Instead of asking God to bless someone, find a scripture that covers their need and pray that scripture over them by name. Do the same for yourself. Specificity is not just more effective; it builds the kind of confidence John is describing.

John 15:7; Hebrews 10:35