1 John 5:14-15 – Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. NKJV
In honor of Women’s History Month, and in keeping with my theme on prayer, I want to blog today about the power of a petition.
In 1891, the women of Victoria went door to door and collected close to 30,000 signatures on a petition for women to have the right to vote. These signatures, collected from women in every station of life, were written in a variety of colors of ink, and even in pencil. It took the women about 6-10 weeks (depending on the source) to collect the many signatures. This petition played an important role in the history of Australia. In 1901, 10 years later, Australia was the first nation to give women both the right to vote and to be a part of government.
In America, the women’s suffrage movement was equally as powerful in getting things done. While watching a documentary tonight on Lincoln, it was fascinating to note that the women’s suffrage movement played a significant role in getting him to abolish slavery in America! They marched and petitioned for decades, resulting in the 19th Amendment and winning the right to vote in 1920.
In the case of the women suffrage’s movement in Victoria, the petition was a formal request from almost 30,000 people to its government in Victoria, Australia to recognized their right to vote and to have a say in the laws and taxes that governed their lives. In the sense of prayer, a petition is a request, where one asks of God to grant favor, a right, or mercy. Also, the prayer of petition is used for having our needs met by God. It’s a powerful prayer.
In 1 Samuel, we find Hannah, the wife of Elkanah, and she is barren. Her greatest desire is to have a child. After much heartache and many years of disappointment, Hannah petitioned the God who hears. Her petition was so important to her that she poured all of her energy into it, much as the women in our above example of the suffrage movement. The high priest, at that time was Eli, and he thought her praying looked like the actions of a drunkard. When she told him that she had poured her heart out to God, he replied:
Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” 1 Samuel 1:17 -NKJV
And it was! Hannah had a son, and she named him Samuel. The same Samuel who later became a mighty prophet in the land of Israel!
Then there was Daniel. At this time, he was serving under king Darius. It was Daniel’s custom to petition God, three times a day. When his enemies saw this, they set a trap for Daniel, requesting (petitioning) the king to sign a decree that no one could petition a god or man, except the king, for thirty days. When Daniel heard about it, he continued with his practice of petitioning God. Not in private! Not only once! But for the same amount of time that he had always petitioned God!
So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” Daniel 6:13 -NKJV
Daniel ignored the decree and was thrown in the lion’s den. But we know God delivered him. I’m pretty sure that while Daniel was praying, he petitioned God to deal with his enemies, for they were all fed to the lions!
And now, to our text for this blog.
1 John 5:14-15 – Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. NKJV
The prayer of petition is a prayer of confidence and power, because when we petition God, we do so on the basis of His word. Even in the petition of the suffrage movement, they petitioned the government based on the laws that were already in place: all people are created equal, the government was for the people and by the people… And when we petition God, it has to be in line with that which is already in His word. No need to say, “If it be your will” because you have already established that it is His will because it’s His word.
Jeremiah wrote:
Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.”Jeremiah 1:12 – NKJV
Another point to remember is that when we petition the Father, we must believe that He hears us. Again, when the women in this suffrage movement took their petition to Parliament, it was rigged. The man in charge, James Munro, was married to the woman leading the pack, Jane Munro. When we go to God, it’s a rigged court session. Our Father is the Judge, our elder brother and Savior, is our defense attorney, and His beloved Son. We can count on Him hearing our case because the “cards” are stacked in our favor!!
Even if the answer tarries, we must believe that God heard us, the thing that we asked is in line with His will, and therefore we have the petitions that we have asked of Him!
Sometimes I pray for things that I don’t really care if I get them or not, but if I do get them, it would be nice. Do you know what? Most times I don’t get them at all. But there are other times when I petition God for a need, and I see Him come through. I can share many testimonies when He has answered petitions for healing, for provision, for protection, and for forgiveness. I always, always base my petitions on the word of God. I don’t always get an immediate answer, and it doesn’t always take a long time. I am learning how to trust Him when I see nothing. That’s what faith is all about!
Some believe that we have to write a formal prayer petition and sign it. If that’s how God leads you to petition Him, I encourage you to do so expeditiously. However, you can simply petition God, as Hannah and Daniel did, from your heart; and trust that He will hear you and He will answer you! Wonderful Jesus!
