Does Heaven talk to us?
Having heard many times that God, the Holy Spirit, or Jesus does not communicate with us causes me to ask: What is prayer then? —A one way communication effort, or are prayers answered?
For many of us prayer is a way to petition heaven to consider our situation or that of another. We seldom pray considering God’s will and not our own. Jesus tells us that whatever we ask in His name He will do, and that statement alone causes many to ask for all sorts of things expecting Jesus to grant it. However, John 14:13–14 does not mean what our minds think it means.
Other verses have a way to play with our minds: Here are a few verses that most cling to without understanding context. Let me add that the context for all these verses is stated in Matthew chapter 6:9–13 (NIV) and 1 John 5:14 (NIV):
Matthew 21:22 (NIV) “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
All things—ye shall ask in prayer, believing: In order to get salvation, there must be, 1. a conviction of the want of it: this begets, 2. prayer, or warm desires, in the heart: then 3. The person asks, i. e. makes use of words expressive of his wants and wishes: 4. believes the word of promise, relative to the fulfillment of his wants: and 5. receives, according to the merciful promise of God, the salvation which his soul requires.
John 16:24 (NIV) “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.”
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; Ye have not as yet considered me the great Mediator between God and man; but this is one of the truths which shall be more fully revealed to you by the Holy Spirit.
Ask In my name; and ye shall receive—all the salvation ye thus request; the consequence of which shall be that your joy shall be full—ye shall be thoroughly happy in being made completely holy.
John 14:13–14 (NIV) “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”
Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name: To enable you to perform these miracles, and to convert souls, may be granted you. Besides, by going unto the Father, I shall receive the Holy Spirit, and send down his abundant influences into the hearts of those who believe.
1 John 5:14 (NIV) “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
This is the confidence: Παρῥησια: The liberty of access and speech, that if we ask any thing according to his will, that is, which he has promised in his word. His word is a revelation of his will, in the things which concern the salvation of man. All that God has promised we are justified in expecting; and what he has promised, and we expect, we should pray for. Prayer is the language of the children of God. He who is begotten of God speaks this language. He calls God Abba, Father, in the true spirit of supplication. Prayer is the language of dependence on God; where the soul is dumb, there is neither life, love, nor faith. Faith and prayer are not boldly to advance claims upon God; we must take heed that what we ask and believe for is agreeable to the revealed will of God. What we find promised, that we may plead.
Clarke, A. (2014). The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes (New Edition, Vol. 6, p. 925). Faithlife Corporation.
My reason for adding the commentary is to illustrate that what we think those verse mean is not always accurate. God is not a genie, and the bible is not His lamp where we rub it three times and His Holy Spirit appears and grants our three wishes.
For myself, prayer is continuous, I am constantly sending questions, thoughts, requests. I am not sure that stops even while asleep; However, what I can add to my continuous prayer life is that I always seek God’s will in the request. Over the years I can say that the scriptures offer us all we need to know concerning God’s will for us.
Prayers throughout scriptures have to do with salvation, and rescue from enemies, protection for self and others, keeping evil away, for a miracle, prayer for those in authority, and enemies. Those who pray without God’s will in mind are those of wrong thinking, various lusts, greed for wealth, power, pride, and various wanton desires. We who are God’s children through Jesus Christ approach Him as a child because we recognize that we can do nothing on our own, and that He is our protector. Does that mean asking for things such as a job, home, transportation, is wrong? Of course not, if those requests are within God’s will and His desires for us and those we pray for.
I cannot explain how God answers prayer for you; I can say how God answers prayers for me. What I can say is He answers prayers that brings awe, surprise, wonder and joy. He answers prayer at the most opportune time that recalls what was asked for some time in the past.
On prayer there is another point to make here: When we pray for a miracle to happen in someone’s life, say someone who has a terminal condition, and we would like to see that person recover. We pray for a miracle to happen, and we see this individual recover and we give praise to the Lord. Then one day this individual has the same terminal condition, and we wonder why God allowed this to happen to that individual and to us since we prayed, and the prayer appeared to have been answered. Here is the point for this situation: The prayer was not answered, and we wrongly attributed a remission of this the individual’s condition to God answering prayer. Here is another point: When God does answer a prayer, it is complete. There is no resurgence of the issue, God has fully answered our prayer, and that brings glory to God because we cannot contain the awe and joy that comes with a true answer to prayer, a true miracle.
In closing this post concerning communication with heaven let me say that God does talk with us today, His Holy Spirit does guide us, and leads us into all truth. We do receive revelation about things we need to ask forgiveness for, and the Holy Spirit does enlighten us to seek God with all our heart. When you pray, know that heaven does hear, and if that prayer is aligned with God’s will, it will be answered.
Thank you for reading. Please have a blessed day and pray continuously for God to reveal His will for you.
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