Praying with a Kingdom Purpose

I am occasionally asked whether or not we should always add the words "if it is Your will" to our prayers.   This is a good question, since the apostle James' taught us to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that" (Ja. 4:15).  James was concerned that Christians not pray boastfully or presumptuously, but humbly leave our affairs in God's sovereign hands.  For this reason, when we pray for practical needs in our lives - jobs, health, relationships, etc. - we should indeed pray, "If it is Your will."

There are, however, important prayer concerns for which we should not pray, "if it is Your will."