Thy will be done...

Worship Wednesday with Pastor Edith
March 4, 2026
1 John 5:14-15

In my neck of the woods, the temperatures are a bit warmer and with the warmth has come rain, lots of rain with more on the way. Isn’t that the way of things; you ask for warmer temperatures but forgot to ask for sunny or maybe partly cloudy days in which to run and play.

In reading today’s journal verse I have been asking myself; “How much of what happens to me is a result of my prayers?” And, “How much of what happens to me is simply the result of God’s will regardless of my prayers?”. Maybe you have had similar questions and, if so, I hope and pray this little meditation may help.

Our journal verse comes from 1 John 5:14-15; “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 ask of Him”. It would seem that the Apostle John is writing this to the early church after only 50 or 60 years have passed since Jesus died on the cross, was resurrected and ascended to the Father in Heaven. These early followers of Christ were easily lead astray by boldly speaking philosophers, masking themselves as prophets who try to confuse them and make them believe that Jesus was not enough for salvation, nor does he care. In the verses we are considering today, John is telling the church that God hears our prayers when we pray His will, not our own. John also knows that Jesus taught the disciples that they were to ask for what they needed in His name; “Until now you have not asked [The Father] for anything in My name; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy may be full and complete” (John 16:24).

It is interesting to note that the Greek word for confidence in the beginning of our journal verse means a bold joy. On the one hand the false teachers are speaking boldly a lie, on the other hand the Christ followers have a bold joy in knowing that God hears their prayers because they are asking for God’s will. You might recall how Jesus taught his disciples to pray, and we recite it every Sunday; “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.

So, how much of what happens to me is a result of my prayers, and, how much of what happens to me is a result of God’s will regardless of my prayers? I’m pretty confident (smile) that John is aligning himself with what Jesus taught in praying for God’s will to be done, not in a way that God’s will won’t be done if believers don’t pray, or pray with only their own motives in mind, but that our prayer life is reflective of our closeness to the Lord in His Word and in His Way (The Jesus Way, The joyful Way). If I’ve confused you, I invite you to ask the Lord to have His Holy Spirit walk you through the readings I have shared with you and lead you to pray and listen for God to answer in whatever way you are gifted.

Now, on to a song to help us pray and listen; “Father, let your kingdom come, Father, let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven right here in my heart” (Matt Maher, TAYA – “The Lord’s Prayer” (It’s Yours), you might want to listen to it on your phone or device.

AMEN and Pray on!