Confusing...

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Matthew 6:9-10
“This, then, is how you should pray:…’your will be done.’” - NIV

John 15:7
“Ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” – NIV

Am I the only one confused here? In our prayers, does anyone else feel this sort of tension between two teachings? Jesus tells us to pray for the Father’s will, but then He also tells us to pray for our will. Which one are we supposed to do?

The way I see it, when we break down the question in this way, we are inadvertently focusing on the object of our prayer – in other words, the answers that we are expecting to receive. But, this isn’t what prayer is about at all. We have become so consumed with who’s will is going to be met that we have completely forgotten the entire intention of prayer in the first place.

Prayer is a relationship. Jesus had more in mind for us than the cause and effect of requesting when He told us to pray without ceasing. He wants to bring us into perfect union with the Father. Yes, He wants us to pray for God’s will…but He also wants us to pray for our own will to be done as well. He wants those two wills to be one and the same.

Now the big question…are they?