Critics have stated that WoF people teach that we should never pray “if it be Thy will”. Having sat under Kenneth Hagin’s teaching for two years, I know that he never taught that. Brother Hagin taught that there are different kind of prayer, and you don’t use the same guidelines for every kind of prayer. The critics say that we should always pray “if it be Thy will” because Jesus prayed that way in the garden of Gethsemane. You never see Him praying that way when dealing with the sick, however. Nor did His disciples.
Let’s look at a quote from Brother Hagin’s Bible Prayer Study Course.
“Jesus wasn’t praying a prayer to change something. He was praying a prayer of consecration and dedication. We use the phrase, “If it be Your will” in our prayers because we want to be available to do what Jesus wants us to do. We should be willing to go anywhere and do anything God has called us to do, whether it is to pastor, to be a missionary, or to be anything else He wants us to be. Therefore, in a prayer of dedication and consecration, we are to pray, “Lord, if it be Your will” or “Lord, Your will be done.”
However, when it comes to changing things and receiving something from God according to His Word, we do not pray, “If it be Your will.” We already know God’s will because we have God’s Word for it. It is God’s will that our needs be met. God wants to give us what we need. And we receive our needs met by faith.”
When praying for direction in life in areas that aren’t clearly defined in God’s Word (such as who to marry, what job or career to pursue, how God wants you to use your gifts and talents to serve Him … etc.), it’s appropriate. When James made reference to qualifying your statements with “if the Lord wills” (James 4:15) he wasn’t referring to praying for the sick. He was talking about making future plans.
We need God’s direction in these areas on a regular basis, and so we pray for God’s will to be done. I pray that way all the time, so did Dr. Hagin, and so do most WoF people.