Prayer & Fasting: Day 2 – The will and wisdom of the King OPEN IN PRAYER Pause with Jesus before jumping into today’s Scripture. Ask God to help you become aware of his Presence. PASSAGE FOR PRAYER AND REFLECTION 1. Read Ephesians 5:15-17: a. When it comes to the will of God, prayer is more about surrendering OUR will to God’s than changing HIS will to ours. We see Jesus doing this in the garden of Gethsemane when he prays, “Yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42) Are you prepared to fully surrender your will to God’s? Spend some time choosing to lay your will down for the will of the King. b. Before we ask the King for wisdom in our specific life circumstances, we are to live all of our lives according to the revealed will of the King. Ask the Holy Spirit in prayer to reveal any areas where he is inviting you to give up your way (or the world’s way) and live according to HIS will? c. What big decisions are you facing where you are seeking the will and wisdom of God? Write down the decision and the possible outcomes or options you are facing. i. While there is not always a clear chapter and verse for all of life’s situations, sometimes God’s word does provide wisdom for us in these areas. Is there any Scripture that could guide you concerning these decisions? ii. Proverbs 15:22 speaks about the benefit of have many wise people speak into our lives. Ask God if there is anyone that you can speak to in order to receive wise counsel. iii. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a sense of what his will may be? Sometimes this comes through Scripture, through a prompting of a friend or through another form of confirmation. I heard of a man the other day who prayed this prayer for five and a half years, but after that time God did give him a very clear answer! iv. Sometimes God chooses not to give us a clear answer, but invites us to use wisdom to make a decision. Ask the Holy Spirit for the necessary wisdom to make a wise decision. d. Now choose to trust God in prayer with all that you have brought before him today.