Sid Litke (ThM, 1984) wrote an article addressing that question. He writes, “Like parents who must teach their kids to want and ask for the right things, God teaches us to pray for the right things—things in line with His will. Those are the prayers God answers. The Apostle John wrote, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14–15). Pray according to God’s will. Out of context the words “we know we have what we asked” seem like a blank check from God. Can we have what we want just by asking God for it? Not at all. A condition precedes the promise: “If we ask anything according to His will.” Click the button to read the article.
