Monday March 6
The Foundation of Biblical Prayer: Ask God
Read Matthew 7:7.
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Before we can receive anything from God, we have to ask for it. Why is our asking so important, if God knows everything anyhow?
God often protects and blesses us without our asking. When He does this and I become aware of it, I repent for not having gone to Him first. Why? Because He is in control of all that happens around me. Nothing can reach me unless it first goes through Christ. Asking Him through prayer reveals my dependence upon Him. It reveals my love for Him. It reveals that I am aware of His presence, power, and love.
Asking reveals our desire and expresses our trust in God. Through prayer we approach Him, from whom we seek support and help. When we ask God, we also publicly give Him permission to become active in our behalf. God wants to be asked. He desires that we bring to Him our prayer requests. If we do not ask Him, we will not receive the gifts He has promised. Jesus said: "And I say unto you, 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." Luke 11:9, 10.
Amen!!
Read Mark 11:24; 1 John 5:14, 15; and Psalm 66:18.
11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].
5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me]:
Why is no prayer request too big for God?
God is God. But, He will not force the conscience. If some will not learn of Him, will not give up their will to His will, then He cannot answer prayers for that person. But, He has a million ways to do that which we cannot do, and to persuade sinners to come to Him.
Why is it good to know that God is generous and loves to give out of His abundance?
It is His grace that saves, that transforms sinners into saints.
What is the prerequisite for God to fulfill our prayers?
God can and will do as He sees fit. But, if we think God is going to answer all of our prayers if we do not make a full surrender of the whole heart to Him, we have been deceived, for the Bible says "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." Psalm 66:18.
We truly can ask God for anything. No request is too small or unimportant for Him. No request is so big that God cannot handle it. He is omnipotent. By faith we may claim every promise in the Bible and receive the promised gift from His hands according to His will (2 Cor. 1:20).
Yet there are some conditions to be met in order to receive what we are asking. If we are not willing to submit fully to God, and if our requests reflect only our selfish and sinful desires, God will not answer our prayers (see Isa. 59:1, 2). An important condition for the fulfillment of our prayers is our willingness to follow God's will and to be obedient. "All His [God's] gifts are promised on condition of obedience." - Ellen G. White, Christ's Object Lessons, p. 145. Knowing that God is generous, we can come boldly to Him. "The Lord is not glorified by the tame supplications which show that nothing is expected. He desires every one who believes, to approach the throne of grace with earnestness and assurance." - Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, Aug. 7, 1901.
Amen!! None will enter heaven unless they have been transformed in character in this world. And, if we love Jesus with the whole heart, then He will give us the desires of the heart.
"These are they which follow the Lamb withersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb." Revelation 14:4. The vision of the prophet pictures them as standing on Mount Zion, girt for holy service, clothed in white linen, which is the righteousness of the saints. But all who follow the Lamb in heaven must first have followed Him on earth, not fretfully or capriciously, but in trustful, loving, willing obedience, as the flock follows the shepherd. Acts of the Apostles, pg 591.
Are you asking God for help throughout your day? He wants you to come to Him just as you are, seeking His help in all you do. Try it. Talk to Him as a friend who has your bests interests at heart. He loves you more than you know.