The Prayer of Petition

Most of us are very familiar with intercessory prayer...for some, the easiest, for we recognize enormous needs in the word and in our own lives. The words of Jesus offer us encouragement to pursue our requests:  "Amen, amen, I say to  you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.  Until now you have not asked anything in my name; as and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete." (Jn 16:23b-24). Yet, often the answer WE want does not come, or comes much later than we anticipated.  We have grown impatient in the meantime, or have let doubt overtake us. The purpose of prayer is not to get OUR WAY, but to grow in love and trust in God.  Most often, if not always, HIS ways, HIS answers, are far better than what we thought would be the "perfect" or "right" answer. And yet sometimes we do get an encouraging positive response to our liking as a sign that yes, God does hear our prayers and at least this time, our wills are in happy concert. However, let us remain steadfast in our practice of intercessory prayer and look more to growing closer to God in faith and love than in "having it MY WAY"
Bro .Rene