If The Lord Wills-Is It A Scriptural Prayer?

Prayer in faith to God is essential. Even James said in chapter 1 verse 6 and chapter 5:15, "Let him ask in faith, with no doubting...." "...and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up."

James also said, " James 5:16 (NKJV)

"Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

However, when it comes to the leading of the Lord, it's a different story.

When the will of God is uncertain, as far as tomorrow is concerned, because any unforeseen or unanticipated event could happen, we should exercise caution about boasting about what we may do tomorrow.

James 4:13 - 5:1 (NKJV) "Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.

For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin."

The Lord Jesus taught something similar in Luke 12:13-22 (NKJV) "Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’

So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.“‘

But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

So in the context that it's written, we see that saying "If it be Your will" has everything to do with boasting about what a person may be doing tomorrow.

However, it's possible that tomorrow may never come.

Every day 150,000 persons perish, and they'll never see another day on earth.

But we see that the Lord Jesus prayed, "If it is Your will."

Luke 22:41-42 (NKJV)

"And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

Sadly, some Bible teachers try to make unfounded excuses about this prayer.

There's no question that before time, the Lord Jesus knew that this day was coming, and it came. There's no question, and it's natural instinct, that when the bitterness of death comes, the mind and body shudders or trembles in great fear.

He was dedicating His life to do the Father's will, and it's true because Hebrews 10:5-7 (NKJV) says "Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,

But a body You have prepared for Me.

In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin

You had no pleasure.

Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—

In the volume of the book it is written of Me—

To do Your will, O God.’"

We don't know everything and it's not un Scriptural to say or pray, "If it is Your will."

David enquired of the Lord about His will regarding certain battles.

2 Samuel 2:1 (NKJV)"It happened after this that David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?”

And the LORD said to him, “Go up.”

David said, “Where shall I go up?”

And He said, “To Hebron.”

2 Samuel 5:17-20 (NKJV) "Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David.

And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim.

So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”

And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

2 Samuel 5:23-25 (NKJV) "Therefore David inquired of the LORD, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.

And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly.

For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer."

Do you notice that the Lord directed David differently? We must never anticipate that the Lord will answer the same way. The Lord is unpredicable. Unpredictable in the sense that God is Sovereign. He will accomplish His will as He sees fit.

With Hezekiah, we see that the prophet Isaiah told Hezekiah to get his house in order because he was going to die.

Isaiah 38:1-8 (NKJV) "In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’”

Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, and said, “Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.”

And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

And the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years.

I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.“‘

This prayer lines up with Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

In the NT, we see Paul asking the Lord for direction for the next missionary journey.

Acts 16:6-10 (NKJV) "Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.

So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them."

Paul never prayed "If it is Your will," but we see that it doesn't hurt to pray this way at all because we don't impose that God answers a certain way.

Especially when the Lord doesn't say anything at all.

Therefore, there's nothing wrong with praying this way because in praying this way, it's not an expression of unbelief. It's an acknowledgment that only God knows everything when we don't. It's not unbelief or doubting at all.

Mark 1:40-42 (NKJV) "Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed."

Now when people read or teach this Scripture, they say that the Lord is always willing in every case. However, we see a different pattern today.

Millions of people are in desperate need of healing, yet, we see that He's not willing in every case.

It doesn't mean that we don't make a request.

It doesn't mean that God doesn't heal today.

It means that the Lord is Sovereign and He chooses to do His will as He sees fit.