If you asked someone what they wanted, telling them they could have anything they want, you would get a variety of answers. People in the world (and unconverted Christians) ask for fame, fortune, a good spouse, a big house, enough money to not have to work any longer to earn a living, a good education . . . . and so on. Some people will ask for peace and happiness.
All these wants are selfish wants. Even the request for peace and happiness can be made from selfish motives. They want their own lives to be free from conflict. They do not care what happens to others. They want themselves to be happy, and hope to have a life where others treat them well, so that they are happy.
The Lord is well-able to provide all these things for a person, if He chooses.
At one time the Lord came and offered King Solomon anything he wanted: “In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.” 1 Kings 3:5. The Lord knew very well what Solomon needed, but He still told him to ask. He did this to test the king.
“And Thy servant is in the midst of Thy people which Thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this Thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.” 1 Kings 3:8–10. Solomon asked for a wise and understanding heart so that he could be a wise leader, not to bring fame and honour to himself, but to understand the problems of others and be able to help them.
When Elijah was about to be translated he asked Elisha a similar question. He told Elisha to ask for whatever was in his heart. “And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee.” 2 Kings 2:9 (first half). He could have asked for temporal or material favour, riches, fame, wisdom, worldly honour and glory, a place among the great leaders of earth, or a life of ease and pleasure. But no, he did not ask for these. What he wanted to do was to carry on the same work that Elijah had carried on. In the same spirit and power. He asks for no worldly advantage, position or gain, but for the spiritual power necessary to carry on the work. “And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.” 2 Kings 2:9 (second half)
His request was answered and the Lord blessed Elisha with a double portion of Elijah’s spirit and he was a blessing to the nation of Israel. The answer Elisha gave was pleasing to the Lord.
Both of these responses were not self-centred. Both were for the purpose of helping and blessing others. The Lord is pleased when someone asks something wise and good, to be a blessing for others. It brings joy to His heart.
Jesus makes you the same offer that was given to Solomon and to Elisha. Many, many sermons have been spoken, and articles written about His offer. He says: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Matthew 7:7–8. Luke also records this offer (Luke 11:9–10).
Ask yourself honestly, what would you answer to Jesus? Now, why does Jesus make this offer? He realizes that it is impossible for sinners of themselves to live their lives in harmony with heavenly principles. To live a life for Christ, we must receive the strength that Jesus is offering. All that is needed for salvation is offered, all we have to do is ask, seek, and knock. You will not be disappointed. The Lord is not sparing with His gifts. He is gracious and merciful. Children often are not hesitant to ask their parents for things they want, and nor should we be hesitant to ask our heavenly Father for our needs.
Matthew repeats this opportunity. “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matthew 21:22. The only condition added by Matthew here is “believing.” You have to ask—and believe that it will be answered.
John, in his gospel also repeats this promise several times. He says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:23–24. “That whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.” John 15:16. “And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it.” John 14:13–14
Notice that none of these verses say to ask and it will be sold unto you; loaned to you; rented to you. No; it is a gift. Ask and it shall be given. Free!
The offer was also valid in Old Testament times to all believers. “Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3. The Lord does not say He might answer. He says He will answer.
We can read of many great men in the Bible who had the faith to believe that the Lord would answer when they asked. I will mention a few.
Abraham spoke personally with Jesus and asked regarding Sodom. The Lord promised Abraham He would not destroy the city if He found ten faithful souls (Genesis 18:18–33).
Joshua asked for the sun to stand still. “Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.” Joshua 10:12. And, what did the Lord do? “And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.” Joshua 10:13
Elijah prayed once for fire to come down from heaven—and it came. “No sooner is the prayer of Elijah ended than flames of fire, like brilliant flashes of lightning, descend from heaven upon the upreared altar, consuming the sacrifice, licking up the water in the trench, and consuming even the stones of the altar.” –Prophets and Kings, p. 152–153
Later the same day, he had to pray seven times for rain before his request was granted. “But the prophet did not give up in discouragement. He kept reviewing his life, to see where he had failed to honor God, he confessed his sins, and thus continued to afflict his soul before God, while watching for a token that his prayer was answered. As he searched his heart, he seemed to be less and less, both in his own estimation and in the sight of God. It seemed to him that he was nothing, and that God was everything; and when he reached the point of renouncing self, while he clung to the Saviour as his only strength and righteousness, the answer came.” –The Review and Herald, May 26, 1891
“If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Matthew 17:20. This is the kind of faith we need. We must not hesitate to ask in times of need. Do you have this kind of faith? “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” Genesis 18:14
The answer may not come as we expect. We have to be prepared for the unexpected. Jacob went to pray at night for the safety of his family from the anger of his brother and he found himself wrestling with an angel (Genesis 32:24–30), whom he initially thought was the enemy.
The Lord also hears every small request that is fretting us. How many have prayed for small things such as where they had misplaced their keys? No request is unimportant to the Lord, if it is made from a genuine motive. The Lord is real and He is very near. Although these small matters may not seem important as far as our salvation goes, they are distressing to us, and the Lord does not like to see us distressed. He loves us and these answers to our small requests build our faith to believe that He will also answer larger requests.
Any request regarding our salvation and the salvation of those around us, the Lord is more than happy to answer. He is waiting for you to ask; whether you ask for a small or a great matter, His ear can hear.
“Through faith God’s children have ‘subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.’ Hebrews 11:33, 34. And through faith we today are to reach the heights of God’s purpose for us. ‘If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.’ Mark 9:23.” –Prophets and Kings, p. 157
Isaiah wrote: “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24. And Matthew wrote: “Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.” Matthew 6:8
Then why do we need to ask if the Lord has already answered, or knows what we need? Even before you ask, the Lord anticipates your requests and provides His answer. As with everything else, it starts with God’s love. God wants to hear our voice. He desires that we pour out our hearts to Him, not because He does not already know our hearts and our needs, but because each time we come to Him we are offering ourselves freely to God. We like it when we communicate with our children and they ask. We would not be happy just simply providing them all their needs, which we know of, without any communication of wants and needs with them.
Prayers is not actually an information session, informing the Lord of what He does not know. Nor is it a means of trying to persuade Him to do something that He was perhaps unwilling to do. Prayer links us with heaven—with omnipotence and conditions our wills to cooperate with His will. That is what Jesus wants—a connection with your heart. “Ye have not, because ye ask not.” James 4:2
The Lord may grant our requests even if they are not the best:
Sometimes we ask for something and we keep begging God, but it is not for our good. The Lord at first says, “no,” but we do not accept the “no” and keep asking. This happened to Balaam. The Lord said, no, you cannot go curse Israel. But Balaam’s greed got the better of him and he asked again and again. Finally the Lord relented. It all backfired on Balaam and in the end he lost his life and likely his eternal life (Numbers 22–24).
The children of Israel were crying to the Lord for a king so they could be like the other nations. The Lord finally gave in to their requests. This was not what God’s original plan had been for the nation. The people later recognised their mistake, but it was too late. “And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. 1 Samuel 12:19. Although they went through their trials, the Lord, in His mercy, did not forsake the nation when they were faithful. “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.” 2 Chronicles 20:3–4. The Lord answered their prayer and helped them.
Some are afraid to ask. “But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask Him.” Mark 9:32. Jesus had just informed the disciples that He would suffer and die. They did not understand, but were afraid to ask because they did not really want to believe it would happen. So they remained silent. They were afraid to ask, in case it was really true. People fear to ask because they anticipate an answer they do not want to hear. They are not willing to have a relationship with the Lord and commit their lives to Him.
Some feel they are too sinful to ask. When you have done something amiss, something you know you should not have done you often feel very guilty and fear to come before God because you think He will not listen. You say, “I do not deserve God’s help!” “I am just not good enough!” The question we need to ask is not, are we good enough, but is the Blood of Jesus good enough? We know the answer to that question. The Blood of Jesus can cleanse from any sin. If God is interested in each blade of grass and each little bird, how much more is He interested in you (Matthew 6:26–34)?
“Satan will seek to discourage you, he will tell you that it is of no use for you to go to Christ, that you are too sinful; but take the promise of God, and declare in his face: ‘It is written,’ ‘Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.’ The blood of Jesus is able to cleanse you from all unrighteousness, and He can save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him. He has esteemed you of so great value that He has given His life for you, and will you allow anything to separate you from Him? Let nothing come between you and your Lord. Come unto Him in full assurance of faith, lay your every care upon Him, for He careth for you.” –The Signs of the Times, January 26, 1891
Some have too much pride to ask. They constantly tell themselves, “I’ll do it myself!” They feel too wise in their own knowledge to ask the Lord. Whether it is their health, their work, their study or any task that they undertake, they feel they have enough knowledge themselves to manage. The truth is that relying on God is not weakness. There is nothing that we can do that God cannot do better. He is Wonderful, Counselor, the Almighty God. We are weak if we refuse His help.
King Ahaz was too proud to ask anything when he was prompted by Isaiah to ask. “Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?” Isaiah 7:11–13
The Lord made this offer to strengthen the faith of Ahaz. Signs such as these are often given to establish the faith of weak minds. Gideon asked for a sign (Judges 6:37–40)
and his faith was strengthened. However, Ahaz did not want to ask. He did not want to believe, and wanted nothing that might help him believe. He did not want a sign to influence his mind. In the end he sought the help of the Assyrians instead of the help of the Lord. God offered help, but he refused. He determined to have nothing to do with God
Some have too much doubt to ask: They do not believe that God will answer. They doubt because the answer is perhaps delayed. Or the answer is not given.
Pray and search your heart. The reality is that: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Psalm 66:18. “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4:3. Answers to our requests depend both on the nature of the request, and also on the spirit of the prayer. When you ask amiss (Greek word Kakos, “wrongly”) it is with improper motives.
If the person who is asking (praying), does not have a desire to submit himself to the will of God in his personal life he will be praying amiss. Their prayers and requests are often for personal gratification. Even if it is for things good in themselves, they may be made to glorify self instead of God. The Lord may not answer, and so they doubt He will answer in the future so they stop asking.
We can never weary the Lord in asking for genuine needs. He delights to help us with our needs and encourage our faith through signs and wonders. We have to believe.
Prayer requests not to be forgotten:
In our daily prayers we often thank the Lord for His many benefits and blessings, and we also make our requests known to Him. Common requests are for guidance, for protection, for our daily needs to be met (not tomorrow’s needs) and we intercede for others, praying for their needs also (the poor, the sick, the backslidden).
“Each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day. Surrender all your plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of God, and thus your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ.” –Steps to Christ, p. 70
Unity: On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the believers. “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.” Acts 1:14. We must put away all differences we may have with our brethren and pray for perfect unity in the church so that the Latter Rain can be poured out soon.
Rain in time of Latter Rain: “Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.” Zechariah 10:1. Here is a very important request. Many take this to mean we should be praying daily for the Latter Rain. While this is well and good to add to our prayer list, what is the verse really stating? What are we to ask for? We are to ask for “rain.” If the Latter Rain will be poured out and we have no rain, of what value is it to us? It will be a benefit to many others, but we need to search our hearts so that we will receive the rain in the time of the Latter Rain. “But unless the members of God’s church today have a living connection with the Source of all spiritual growth, they will not be ready for the time of reaping.” –The Acts of the Apostles, p. 55
Pray for the Holy Spirit and also an increase of faith: “How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” Luke 11:13. “Let every church member kneel before God, and pray earnestly for the impartation of the Spirit. Cry, ‘Lord, increase my faith. Make me to understand Thy word; for the entrance of Thy word giveth light. Refresh me by Thy presence. Fill my heart with Thy Spirit.’” –God’s Amazing Grace, p. 191
Ask for greater burden for souls: “Let us awake from sleep, and pray as we have never prayed before, that the burden of souls may rest upon us. The burden of my message to you is, Get ready, get ready to meet the Lord. Trim your lamps, and let the light of truth shine forth into the byways and hedges. There is a world to be warned of the near approach of the end of all things.” –The General Conference Bulletin, June 6, 1909, p. 345–346
“There are some who feel no burden for souls. While they claim to believe that the end is at hand, covetousness has blinded their eyes to the wants of the cause of God. The means which He has placed in their hands to be used to His glory, they are binding up in houses and lands, while the saving truth, which God has intrusted to us to be given to the world, is hedged about and shut in by poverty. God calls upon every individual believer to do to the utmost of his ability, and then to pray in faith for God to do what man cannot.” –The Review and Herald, October 5, 1886
Ask when it is time to sell our properties and lands: “Houses and lands will be of no use to the saints in the time of trouble, for they will then have to flee before infuriated mobs, and at that time their possessions cannot be disposed of to advance the cause of present truth. I was shown that it is the will of God that the saints should cut loose from every encumbrance before the time of trouble comes, and make a covenant with God through sacrifice. If they have their property on the altar and earnestly inquire of God for duty, He will teach them when to dispose of these things. Then they will be free in the time of trouble and have no clogs to weigh them down.
“I saw that if any held on to their property and did not inquire of the Lord as to their duty, He would not make duty known, and they would be permitted to keep their property, and in the time of trouble it would come up before them like a mountain to crush them, and they would try to dispose of it, but would not be able. I heard some mourn like this: ‘The cause was languishing, God’s people were starving for the truth, and we made no effort to supply the lack; now our property is useless. Oh, that we had let it go, and laid up treasure in heaven!’ I saw that a sacrifice did not increase, but it decreased and was consumed. I also saw that God had not required all of His people to dispose of their property at the same time; but if they desired to be taught, He would teach them, in a time of need, when to sell and how much to sell. Some have been required to dispose of their property in times past to sustain the Advent cause, while others have been permitted to keep theirs until a time of need. Then, as the cause needs it, their duty is to sell.” –Early Writings, p. 56–57
“Ask for humility, wisdom, courage, increase of faith, that you may see light in God’s light and rejoice in His love.” –Help in Daily Living, p. 61
Do not pray for the Lord to take the situation away, but to give you strength to endure the trying position you find yourself in: When in difficult situations we are tempted cry to God asking Him to remove us from the situation. Instead of asking “God, please take this situation from me,” we should pray, “Lord, show me the lesson you want me to learn; why did you bring me into this?” This specific situation you find yourself in may be what God ordained for your salvation
“What a wonder it is that we pray so little! God is ready and willing to hear the sincere prayer of the humblest of His children, and yet there is much manifest reluctance on our part to make known our wants to God. What can the angels of heaven think of poor helpless human beings, who are subject to temptation, when God’s heart of infinite love yearns toward them, ready to give them more than they can ask or think, and yet they pray so little and have so little faith? The angels love to bow before God; they love to be near Him. They regard communion with God as their highest joy; and yet the children of earth, who need so much the help that God only can give, seem satisfied to walk without the light of His Spirit, the companionship of His presence.” –Steps to Christ, p. 94
“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20–21. Give Him praise and glory.
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” James 1:5–6. Ask and believe.
“God does not say, Ask once, and you shall receive. He bids us ask. Unwearyingly persist in prayer. The persistent asking brings the petitioner into a more earnest attitude, and gives him an increased desire to receive the things for which he asks.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 145
Charles Spurgeon, a Baptist preacher who lived in the 1800’s said, “I’d rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach.” https://prayer-coach.com/prayer-quotes-charles-spurgeon/
Andrew Murray, a Dutch Reform missionary to South Africa stated, “Jesus never taught His disciples how to preach, only how to pray. He did not speak much of what was needed to preach well, but much of praying well. To know how to speak to God is more than knowing how to speak to man. Not power with men, but power with God is the first thing. Jesus loves to teach us to pray.” https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/7351171-lord-teach-us-to-pray
The purpose of prayer is to change us; to bring our wills and our lives into harmony with the will of God. It will not work any change in God. Requests made for the purpose of purifying our characters, increasing our faith, for being a blessing to our fellow man and for the furtherance of the cause of God, are the requests the Lord is hoping we will ask for—and He delights to answer.
So, whether your requests are large or small, do not waver, but, “Ask, and ye shall receive . . .”
Wendy Eaton