You can have what you say

So Jesus answered and said to them, have faith in God. For assuredly I say to whoever says to this mountain, be removed, and cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes those things he says. Therefore I say to you whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.

-          Mark 11:22-24

Unfortunately, these verses have been butchered by those in the Positive Confession/Charismatic/Word of faith movement. They have and continue to grossly mis-apply these passages. There are many that believe Jesus was saying we can whatever we ask for indiscriminately. If these verses stood alone on an island by themselves then yes, I would say we could take these verses at face value.

As a result of this text, no doubt millions have prayed for healing, money, a job, a husband, a wife, a new house, car, casting out of demons, and the list goes on. None of these things are wrong in of themselves. But, do we take a moment to consider is what we are praying for within the sovereign will of God?

There are times when God will not grant our request because it does not fit within His sovereign plan. And God is perfectly within his rights to deny our request(s). This does not necessarily mean someone lacks faith because God did not grant their petition, it just means that since God already determined beforehand what He was going to do, any request contrary to His plan is not granted at that time. He may grant it at another time, or perhaps not at all.

When David desired to build God a house the Lord told him no, but promised David a son who would build His house (2 Sam 7:1-16).

When Paul and his companions wanted to go Asia (Modern Turkey), and Bithynia to preach the gospel, the Holy Spirit did not permit them (Acts 16:6-7). It was God’s will for them to travel to Macedonia for God gave a vision to Paul where he saw a man pleading with him to come to Macedonia to help them.

The desire of Paul was met, but it was according to the will of God, not Paul. God has every right to answer our prayers His way.

Paul had a thorn in the flesh due to the abundance of revelations he was receiving from the Lord to keep him humble. Paul prayed three times to have the thing removed, but the Lord told him,”My  grace is sufficient for you. My strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:7-9a).

Paul petition was not granted, but he boasted in his weaknesses so that the power of God could rest upon him (2 Cor 12:9b).

Even Jesus when agonizing in the Garden of Gethsemane regarding his impending death asked the Father to let this cup pass from me (3x’s), but then said, “not my will but your will be done (Matt 26:39,42,44).

I John 5:14-14 says this, and this is the confidence we have in Him, if we ask for anything according to His will, then He hears us, and we if we know He hears us, then we have the petitions we have desired of Him.

    
      What happens when we pray for loved ones that are sick to get well and they die?

This is a most difficult matter to deal with. When a person is terminally ill, and they recover I believe through the prayers of faith of the saints, God in His sovereign will can heal the sick. It is also within the will of God to allow the person to die. I know this sounds harsh. Why would they die if prayer is being made for them? Does God care? Is He even listening to us? Did we lack faith to move the hand of God to meet our need? Was their sin in the life of the infirmed or those that were praying for them? Was it simply their time to die?

All of these questions can be answered in the affirmative. Sometimes they are true all at the same time.

All of life originated from God. At His discretion, He determines if a child is still born, or that if that child will live to be an old man or woman. It is not for us to know. God is always perfect in His dealings with man even if we do not understand, and the pain of the loss of our loved ones seems too much to bear.

If Mark 11:24 strictly meant we can have whatsoever we desire when we pray, then none of our loves would die when they are ill. They would recover every time.

Everything we would request in prayer we would receive the exact way we requested. This would make God a “cosmic-jeanie”. All we would have to is rub our magic lamp, and God would have to grant our wishes.

Mark 11:24 has a qualifier in prayer, the petition MUST be within the will of God or else that request is granted, but not like the petitioner originally requested it.

Concluding, can we have anything we ask for in prayer? Yes, as long as it within the will of the Father.

How do we know if we are praying according to God’s will? Well we need to search the scriptures for the answers.

a.      Will the prayer bring God glory?

James 4:3 says when a person asks for something, and they do not receive, it is because they ask amiss. God will not answer prayer for selfish gain; so that a person can be greedy.

b.      Prayer for godly wisdom?

James said if any lack wisdom let Him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will given him (1:5).

c.       Praying for Israel

The Psalmist said, pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May they prosper who love you (Psalm 122:6-7).

d.      What about holiness?

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that you should abstain from sexual immorality (I Thess 4:3).

e.      Thankfulness

In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (I Thess 5:18).

f.        Study the word of God

Study to show yourself approved unto God. A worker who need not be ashamed. Rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15).

All these things and many more are the will of God. Prayers center around these commands will definitely be answered for they all honor and magnify God, and not ourselves.

David the psalmist said it best, Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him, and He shall bring it to pass (Psa 37:4-5).

Those who live a life of obedience and faith will get what they want. How do I  know this? When a person is living righteously, all he/she wants to do is please God. The desires they have God placed there. So when the desire is strong upon them, they will gush it out in prayer and praise to God. Their desire is granted and the Lord is glorified.

That is the purpose of prayer. We get the awesome privilege of communicating with God Almighty. He hears us, and grants whatever we want and need because we have submitted our desires underneath His.

People praying with evil motives will never get their prayers answered. Why? They pray not acknowledging the Heavenly Father as holy (Matt 6:8). They are not thankful in their approach to God (Phil 4:6).

Remember this truth when praying, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).