Prayer vs Manifestation: Seeking God's Will vs Personal Desire

Prayer is understood as direct address and converse with God, an intercourse of the soul with the divine ^[2]. It can be oral or mental, spontaneous or constant, and ranges from ejaculatory expressions to formal supplications ^[2]. Scripture portrays prayer as "beseeching the Lord" (Exodus 32:11), "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:15), and "drawing near to God" (Psalm 73:28) ^[2]. The act of prayer presupposes a belief in God's personality and his willingness to engage with humanity ^[2].

The Bible commands prayer, as seen in passages like Isaiah 55:6, Matthew 7:7, and Philippians 4:6 ^[6]. It is directed toward God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and is to be offered through Christ ^[6]. God is depicted as hearing and answering prayers ^[6]. The forms of prayer described in Scripture include bowing the knees, looking up, lifting up the soul or heart, pouring out the heart or soul, calling upon the name of the Lord, and crying to God ^[6].

A key distinction between prayer and merely seeking personal desire lies in the orientation toward God's will. Jesus himself stated, "I can doe nothing of mine owne selfe: as I heare, I iudge: and my iudgement is iust, because I seeke not mine owne will, but the will of the Father who hath sent me" ^[5]. This highlights a fundamental aspect of prayer: aligning one's desires with the divine will rather than imposing one's own.

While individuals may express personal desires in prayer, the emphasis is often on seeking God's guidance and provision within his established order. For instance, in times of affliction, prayer is encouraged for God to consider trouble, for his presence and support, for divine comfort, and for deliverance from sin and trouble ^[8]. These prayers are often framed with an understanding of God's sovereignty and a desire for his teaching and direction ^[8].

The concept of "seeking God" involves seeking his name, his word, his face, his strength, his commandments, his precepts, his kingdom, and his righteousness ^[7]. This seeking is to be done through prayer, among other means ^[7]. The Lord's Prayer, given by Jesus, serves as a model for prayer, emphasizing simplicity and addressing God as Father ^[9]. Its petitions focus on God's name being kept holy and the coming of his kingdom, reflecting a primary concern for God's glory and will ^[9].

In contrast, merely seeking personal desire can be seen as "testing God in their hearts, requesting meat for their desire" (Psalm 78:18) ^[3]. This suggests a self-centered approach that prioritizes human appetite over divine purpose. While the "passion of my soul's desire is for the house of the Lord" (Psalm 84:2) ^[4] illustrates a desire aligned with God, the distinction lies in the object and motivation of the desire.

The efficacy of prayer, though a mystery, is not seen as altering unalterable general laws or as a means for man to be master of his own destiny ^[1]. Instead, it is understood as a means of converse with God, where God hears and is prepared to act in response to the prayers of his people ^{[2, 10]}. The prayers of God's people are depicted as asking for God's ultimate justice and judgment, demonstrating a focus on divine purposes rather than solely individual gratification ^[10].

Sources

Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — The object of this article will be to touch briefly on-- + The doctrine of Scripture as to the nature and efficacy of prayer; + Its directions as to time, place and manner of prayer; + Its types and examples of prayer. + Scripture does not give any theoretical explanation of the mystery which attaches to prayer. The difficulty of understanding real efficacy arises chiefly from two sources: from the belief that man lives under general laws, which in all cases must be fulfilled unalterably; and the opposing belief that he is master of his own destiny, and need ”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold inter”
Psalms “Psalms 78:18 (BBE) — Testing God in their hearts, requesting meat for their desire.”
Psalms “Psalms 84:2 (BBE) — The passion of my soul's desire is for the house of the Lord; my heart and my flesh are crying out for the living God.”
John “John 5:30 (Geneva1599) — I can doe nothing of mine owne selfe: as I heare, I iudge: and my iudgement is iust, because I seeke not mine owne will, but the will of the Father who hath sent me.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7; Php 4:6. To be offered To God. -- Ps 5:2; Mt 4:10. To Christ. -- Lu 23:42; Ac 7:59. To the Holy Spirit. -- 2Th 3:5. Through Christ. -- Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19. God hears -- Ps 10:17; 65:2. God answers -- Ps 99:6; Isa 58:9. Is described as Bowing the knees. -- Eph 3:14. Looking up. -- Ps 5:3. Lifting up the soul. -- Ps 25:1. Lifting up the heart. -- La 3:41. Pouring out the heart. -- Ps 62:8. Pouring out the soul. -- 1Sa 1:15. Calling upon the name of the Lord. -- Ge 12:8; Ps 116:4; Ac 22:16. Crying to God. -- Ps 27:7; 34:6. Drawing”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Seeking God — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7. Includes seeking His Name. -- Ps 83:16. His word. -- Isa 34:16. His face. -- Ps 27:8; 105:4. His strength. -- 1Ch 16:11; Ps 105:4. His commandments. -- 1Ch 28:8; Mal 2:7. His precepts. -- Ps 119:45,94. His kingdom. -- Mt 6:33; Lu 12:31. His righteousness. -- Mt 6:33. Christ. -- Mal 3:1; Lu 2:15,16. Honour which comes from him. -- Joh 5:44. Justification by Christ. -- Ga 2:16,17. The city which God has prepared. -- Heb 11:10,16; 13:14. By prayer -- Job 8:5; Da 9:3. In his house -- De 12:5; Ps 27:4. Should be Immediate. -- H”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:9: 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer is similar in form to a common Jewish prayer (the qaddish). Jesus gave this prayer to his followers as a succinct expression of their new faith. 6:9 Pray like this: In contrast to the vain repetition of pagan prayers (6:7-8), “the Lord’s Prayer” is a model of simplicity. • Jews rarely addressed God as Father, but Jesus did so in every prayer but one (Mark 15:34). • may your name be kept holy: God’s name is profaned by the sin of his people (Isa 29:22-24; Jer 34:15-16; Ezek 39:7; Amos 2:7).”
Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 8:3: 8:3-4 The prayers of God’s people ask for God’s ultimate justice and judgment (6:10-11; see also 5:8; Ezra 9:5-6; Ps 141:2; Dan 9:21). The mixture of incense and prayers that reaches God’s presence shows that God hears their prayers (see Rev 6:9-11) and is prepared to act.”

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