As we continue, let’s explore the second point, that we ask according to His will. For many believers, this is a new concept, and yet it’s a very encouraging promise given to us in the Scriptures. Actually, there are hundreds of promises in the Scriptures for us to pray, but we’ll touch on just a few here. When you pray, are you coming to God with absolute certainty and confidence that what you’re asking for will be given to you? When you bow your head, are you certain that the things that you’re going to ask for, God is going to answer? This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us. Holy Spirit, you who was sent to us to be our helper, I pray that you help me to trust in you at all times. May I have confidence in your plan for my life, and follow where you lead me. Guide and direct my life so that I can be an example of what trusting in God does in our lives. I know you will hear me, oh Lord, and answer my prayer. Amen.

The word “boldness” in this verse is from the Greek word parresia, which describes a frankness of speech that is often viewed as unflinching authority — even in the face of opposition. It presents a picture of unashamed boldness. It also is associated with joy and courage. But in addition, Paul goes on to tell us that we can have “confidence” in Christ as we pray. Valerie says that we can’t compartmentalize our faith if we want to get closer to God. Spiritual growth is a holistic thing, and we need to connect with our whole selves. We can’t just go to church on Sundays and be a totally different person the rest of the week.

Teaching Children to Confidently Pray

In verse 14 Paul reports, “I bow my knees before the Father.” Simply, Paul prays to the Father.In this letter, God the Father is the one who, in love, predestined the Ephesians for adoption into his family (1:5) and made them his heirs (1:11). Believers like us, Paul, and the Ephesians can pray confidently to our loving, Heavenly Father because he set his never-giving-up love on us before the foundation of the world. For our Volunteers, as they process all they have seen in Zambia; that they will be inspired and motivated bu their experiences. Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. I thank You, God, that You answer prayers, period – that You hear us when we pray. We know that, confidently, that that's the truth. We don't have to wonder, we don’t have to hope that our prayers are being heard – they are. You move powerfully when Your people pray. And so we pray, again, that we could turn to You in prayer more often and You would show us how to enrich our prayer lives so we could have a more effective, powerful witness for You in this world. Jesus, we love You so much and it's in Your name we pray. Amen. CONNECT WITH VALERIE:

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: Valerie calls the fourth condition that keeps us far from God “Deserted in the Desert”. When this happens she says it feels like we have been dropped off and left where we are. Maybe we feel like we were told no, and the door is closed. It feels like we have been abandoned by God, and that can definitely lead to feelings of distance and can make prayer difficult.

Your Account

During the very first sorority meeting at UCLA after the prayer chain began, more than half of the sixty women present expressed a desire to receive Christ. Over the next few months, more than 250 students at UCLA -- including the president of the student body, the editor of the newspaper and a number of top athletes -- committed their lives to Jesus Christ. So great was their influence for Christ that the campus chimes began to play Christian hymns at noon each day!