Ask

"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: 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 what we asked of him."

‭‭1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬.

Have you ever asked something of God but didn’t receive an answer? Or didn’t receive the answer you wanted? Of course, we all have. So, how does one seek God in a way that He will answer us with a "Yes?"

The Bible says, "in accordance with His will." We need to "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness," Matthew 6:33, "and all these things will be added to you."

Asking God for anything without first posturing ourselves before Him with humility is tricky. God can definitely overlook our arrogance and mercifully answer us, but there is no promise to do so. Without His promises, we are actually depending on His good character and the way He loves us to answer us favorably. He loves to give His children good gifts—even to the point of spoiling us.

However, when we align ourselves to His will—to build up the kingdom of God—He promises to hear and help out. Do we need forgiveness? He hears us. Do we need His character to serve Him? He hears us. He will always give us His wisdom and the strength to love others when needed in doing a task for the kingdom.

But what about our selfish desires? There are no promises attached to selfishness that I have found. We attach said promises ourselves— "Look what God just gave me! I’ve always wanted a new…!" God does give us free will to spend money as we see fit, but without His wisdom we will usually spend it with “our will” attached. Then occasionally we will use it for His kingdom if need be, like buying a flashy car we desired to have with the intention of showing it off. We justified our purchase by giving that little old lady a ride home from church...once.

God sees our motivation. The problem is we often do not.

Are we pausing before we ask God of anything, making sure we are asking with humility, and asking with the intention of serving Him with our requests? Are we honest with ourselves? “I want this Father because I just do. It would make me happy.”

God loves His children, but His main goal is to make us holy—like His character. So, don’t be disappointed when God doesn’t answer our selfish requests with a "Yes." He hasn’t promised to do so. But if He does, we should be on our knees in a posture of appreciation and thanksgiving, because He has shown us grace and love.

Father,

You are a good Father, often giving Your children more than we need or ask. Sometimes we abuse Your good nature, and we are sorry we have taken advantage of Your kindnesses to us. Help us to desire to build Your kingdom. Help us to appreciate what You have given us to accomplish this task.

Thank you that Your grace is sufficient, and yet, You give more than grace to us every day. Help us to focus on what You have given us, and not what we believe You haven’t given us.

Many of Your children still need healing from illness, poverty, anxiety, and things like these. These are scars resulting from a broken world, and scars will not be with us in Heaven. We are so thankful for this hope. But we will continue to ask for comfort and a release from that which entangles us. Help us to understand that if it’s not Your will, then we surrender this as well. Help us do so with charitable love like Jesus—"Not My will, Yours be done."

You are God the Father, the Creator of all, and we serve You, not the other way around. Help us all to remember this as we pray and as we ask for things.

Amen.