There’s an old saying: ‘It’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.’ I think this applies to having a prayer for better days.

Most people use that saying when talking about things like home or car insurance. In the same way, it’s good to have a prayer ready for a better tomorrow.

What I mean is, you should always pray. Even if your prayers aren’t answered, keep praying. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 38:5 about a man named Hezekiah who prayed to live longer.

God sent a message to Isaiah, telling him to let Hezekiah know that his prayers were heard and that he would live 15 more years. Hezekiah received 15 more years because he was faithful and prayed, but it’s also true that he could have prayed and not lived any longer.

It’s up to God to answer our prayers and give us what He knows is best. For example, if you have a loved one who is very sick or has been in a serious accident, you might pray for them to get better. Sometimes, though, they don’t recover.

Even if God doesn’t answer your prayer the way you hoped, don’t get angry or stop praying for what you need. Whenever we pray, we should tell God that we only want what is in His will, not something outside of it.

Matthew 6:10 says, ‘your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’ Sometimes we forget to say, ‘Your will be done, not mine.’

I encourage you to include that phrase in your prayers. No matter what you ask for, if it’s not God’s will, it won’t be answered. Sometimes, if we don’t like what God says in one verse, we try to find another verse to replace it.

Have you ever prayed for something that didn’t happen? It’s likely because it wasn’t God’s will for you. But when you prayed, did you say to God, ‘If it is your will, let it be done?’

Many Christians have started using the phrase from Luke 11:9, ‘Ask and you will get what you ask for,’ instead of Matthew 6:10. This makes it sound like we’ll always get what we pray for. But if you don’t receive what you asked for, don’t be upset with God.

It’s hard to say, but if we were always honest, our churches might be empty. Many people come to Sunday services to learn about God, but sometimes all they hear are verses taken out of context. Maybe one day we’ll realize this and start truly praying for better days.

by: Staff