Day 9 – Prayer Aligns Our Focus

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 asked of him.

Prayer is often treated as something we do, words we say or needs we present. But at its deepest level, prayer is simply communion with God. It is less about speaking and more about being still in his presence. It is where our restless hearts have a chance to realign with his plans and purpose for our lives.

Our Scripture for today shows that when we pray in alignment with God's will, he not only hears, but we can also have confidence that we will receive what we ask of him. Jesus himself provided the cornerstone for this understanding in John 15:7 when he said: ‘If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you.’

This speaks of an intimate relationship with Christ. Abiding in God is not just a once-off moment but a continuous relationship in which his Word, his teachings, and his truth can shape our thoughts and desires. It is from this place that our prayer life aligns with our focus on God's will.

We saw Jesus model this beautifully when, time and again, he would retreat to spend time with God. This wasn't because he lacked clarity; instead, intimacy with his Father anchored his focus. It was in prayer where Jesus aligned his will with His Father's, and we saw this in Jesus' greatest time of trial. Before going to the cross, Jesus went to Gethsemane to pray. The prayer wasn't for a way out, but a prayer of surrender to God's will: 'Not my will, but yours be done.'

Prayer aligns our focus by gently shifting our eyes from our problems, anxieties, and circumstances to God's sovereignty and his faithfulness. So, as you spend time with him today, can I encourage you to make it less about asking God to bless your plans and more about allowing him to realign your focus? Sit with Him, listen to Him, and trust that, in the stillness, He is turning your heart towards Him.

Family Discussion Questions

1.     When do you find it hardest to be still with God? What normally fills your mind when you try to pray in these moments?

2.     Can you remember a time when God didn't specifically answer your prayer request, but through that process, he changed how you felt towards the situation? Did he bring peace and alignment despite the outcome?