God provides when you're in His will

 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it  ~John 14:13-14

What is the will of God and how do we know when we are in His will? And will God truly give you whatever you ask for if you ask it in His name? These can be two very hard questions to answer yet they can also be simple at the same time. I believe that God’s will is to be one with us and for His name to be known. And for the second question, every prayer does get answered but it doesn’t always mean that we will be given what we ask for however, if we are in God’s will and ask in His name then yes we will be given what we ask for but it may take time and be a process, we aren’t given what we ask for overnight or at a blink of an eye.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. ~James 4:3

So, how do we know when we are in God’s will? I believe that there’s honestly no clear answer to this question however, if you are following God then you will know when you are in His will and when you are in your own will or desires.

I was attending a neighborhood association meeting yesterday and the neighborhood leader kept saying, “let me tell you how God works” and she told us about 3 instances that happened in the last month where you knew from her talking that she was in God’s will and He provided and gave her what she prayed for in His name.

1. At least a month ago someone broke into the community center and busted a window out and stole the television that was at the center. Insurance gave some money to help repair the window and replace the television but it wouldn’t have covered it all but the neighborhood leader got someone that is willing to help replace the window, install the new television, and place security locks and bars around the windows and the television to help prevent the same thing from happening again.

2. The center helps serve at least 300 people on average per month and her electricity at the center was turned off. She prayed about it and when she opened her email, she started reading a message that she had received and it was from someone that told her that he felt God placing it on him to reach out to her and see how he could assist and help her out. This came at the right time and he was able to help give a financial donation to help turn the electricity back on. Again, she was in God’s will and her prayer was answered and she was given what she had asked for.

3. The AC at the center stopped working and was putting out heat rather than air so it had to be looked at and fixed so the neighborhood leader that runs the community center had called a heating and electric company that was not her own however, she later received a call from her electric company saying that they had a dropped call from her. She didn’t know how she ended up with their number and calling them but she figured that since they were on the phone she would tell them what was wrong and have them come take a look at the heating and AC unit. The person that ended up showing up used to be a pastor and was a Christian. He was able to fix the problem and he only charged for the initial hour fee rather than an additional fee for the service that he had provided. Again, ask in Jesus name and whatever you ask will be given to you IF you are in His will.

In all 3 instances, the neighborhood leader found herself in a situation where all she could do was pray and ask for help and God provided every time however, most of the instances did not happen in the way that she may have expected and that’s the thing with asking in Jesus name. He says we will be given whatever we ask for but it may not always be in the way we expect or at the time we expect yet if we are in His will and doing His work and asking in His name (everything lining up and being one with God) then we shouldn’t have anything to worry about since He will provide and give us what we need… So really, we shouldn’t always ask what we want but rather what we need since we may not always be given what we want but we will always be given what we need.

It’s encouraging to see God at work and provide time and time again and hear stories of how God has provided and given us what we need. However, none of this would happen if we were not in God’s will and living as one with Him. As James 3 says above, if we ask wrongly and are only asking to make our desires and wants happen then we won’t receive but if we continue walking with God in unity with Him then we should know that there’s nothing to worry about and we will be given what we ask in His name.

So, what are you asking for? Are you in His will and asking accordingly or are you in your own will and trying to make something come about and happen that isn’t in God’s plan?

I know that before I graduated college, I was asking God to allow me to graduate with my teaching license and that there would be some way for me to still be a teacher yet all along I was asking in my will and not in God’s will. Even though I was praying in Jesus name, the initial answer to my prayer was no. Once I began going down the path God has planned for me then the answers started to become yes because I was in unity with what God wanted for me and it was according to His will. I had applied for 2 ministries before being accepted into the young adult program, the answer didn’t come as I had expected or according to my time yet I was eventually given what I had prayed for and asked for. I never expected to be in Texas or doing some of the work that I am but God was providing and brought me to the exact place that I needed to be and with the placement site that I was meant to be matched up with and working with! So, pray in God’s name and be in His will and He will provide and give you what you want and need if you are doing it in unity with Him!

Put your trust and faith in God and keep believing and things will be okay