If we’re honest with ourselves, don’t we sometimes pray for something without first asking if it’s God’s will? We can know His will, through the discernment of His Holy Spirit, but sometimes it takes time to pray through and be sure.

An important step in sensing God’s will is to pray about something without any desire of our own--present the need, share our concerns, without trying to persuade God one way or the other--until we sense the leading of His Spirit, supported by Scripture, in a definite direction.

Once we’re sure, through the lasting peace we have about it, we can be bold and persistent--anticipating that no matter how large the request, God will hear and answer, giving whatever we’ve asked. Sometimes, we’ll know that something clearly is not God’s will, as Paul did when he asked for the thorn to be removed. Our peace and strength will come in knowing and accepting that, as Paul did. As Jesus did, in the garden of Gethsemane.