Jesus knew His Father couldn’t grant His request, yet He prayed it anyway. He had to die on the cross to save us, yet He still pled with His Father to take away “this cup of suffering” (Luke 22:42). Why did Jesus pray when He knew the answer was No? He prayed because of the sheer terror that lay before Him (Luke 22:44). Jesus prayed because prayer isn’t primarily about getting what we want. It’s about our relationship with our heavenly Father.
Have you ever wondered why God wants us to ask for things? If what we ask for is according to His good will, then He is already planning on giving it to us. If it’s not, then He won’t. Why has God commanded that we ask, seek, and knock for whatever we want? (Matthew 7:7-11). Why does God make us ask for our daily needs? (Luke 11:3).
Because He knows it’s best for us.
Have you ever dated someone you thought was too good for you? While you were delighted to be with her, you also shrank before her beauty or charisma. You were afraid of doing or saying the wrong thing and so you froze, becoming a shadow of your true self. If the other person was wise, she asked you questions to get you talking. She knew that if your relationship was going to go anywhere, you would have to find your voice.
There’s no more lopsided relationship than the one between God and us. We’re the unequal partner in this relationship, easily overwhelmed by the infinite beauty and majesty of God. Yet He wants a genuine relationship with us, so He’s devised a way for us to find our voice. He doesn’t need us to ask for what we need, but He knows that we do. Let’s go ahead and tell Him what we want, even if we think the answer will be No. God wants to hear from us, so let’s speak up today!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 9:1-19
More:
Read Matthew 7:7-11 to learn how to tell God what you want.
Next:
What do you need to ask God for today? Why is it important to continue asking Him for what you want?
godlove on October 20, 2016 at 3:58 am
Thank you for this devotional, Mike but before I get on, I think it’s important to debunk the myth (rampant in many churches where I live) that God answers the prayers of certain special “prophets” or “apostles” more than others’. I don’t think prayer is some sort of magic formula which if said right leads to positive results. It has always marked me that even Jesus Christ – God’s own beloved Son – received a “No” answer to a prayer request. I consider prayer as a means of maintaining a constant relationship through dialogue with God and acknowledging God’s Sovereignty over our lives. I start off the day talking to Him in a “conventional” prayer but I also talk to Him in short one-liners throughout the day, be it a quick word of thanks or a rapid request. However, I don’t ask expecting to be granted all prayer requests but rather hoping the requests will be granted, knowing that God, who sees the bigger picture, knows better what is best for us. The great thing is that asking anything from God in prayer usually brings peace of mind. When I commit any situation to God , I leave it up to Him, always remembering to mention like Jesus did, that may His Will be done. This keeps me from worrying too much over such issues. In line with Romans 8:26-27, my prayer is that the Holy Spirit may help shape the desires of our hearts and enable us to always ask in accordance with God’s Will. Blessed day to everyone, with love.
sandy229 on October 20, 2016 at 6:12 am
You’re right godlove, God answers the prayers of everyone, maybe not in the way we want, but according to His will, and He doesn’t show partiality. Prayer is having a conversation with our Heavenly Father. We were made for His purpose and not our own, and God pursues us to have a meaningful relationship with Him. I also say sentence prayers throughout the day to keep in a close relationship with Him. And you’re right, it brings peace of mind to know that we have handed every situation to God. It’s important to ask God for the desires of our heart according to His Will so we can maintain a close relationship with Him.
Gary Shultz on October 20, 2016 at 6:09 am
Mike, this is a subject on my mind a lot. I like what Godlove said and I would agree. Why pray, I ask myself that a lot, then I must remind myself as Sheridan mentioned once, Jesus prayed and He prayed with great agony and passion and He is part of who we call our God. So I must think this is really important stuff, the Son prayed often. God has always provided my basic needs, I think thanks are in order; however, should I pray every day for something God has covered? Why waste the time with things I have been so blessed with? Should I do it just to make sure God does not pull the plug? I have to be convinced that God directs us to the need area of our lives. He reminds us of things throughout the day. To do that, we have to be in sync with Him, and to do that we need to be in the word and prayer. So it is “never ceasing”. I try to fill idle spots in my thinking ( yes men have them) with thoughts of thankfulness and needs of others. I didn’t get a Saints Badge to do that, but God does lead us to Himself and His work if we are open to His leading. I pray that my wants be His wants for me, I need to not be lead into temptation, I want to be delivered from evil, and I do want more wisdom and integrity. Even some reminders to keep my mind on Him. Thanks Mike
sandy229 on October 20, 2016 at 6:17 am
I was thinking the same thing Gary, God wants a close relationship with Him, and by doing this, we won’t fall into temptation. We have to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in all things. No, we don’t need a saints badge, but God wants us to mold and shape our lives after Him.
sandy229 on October 20, 2016 at 6:41 am
God knows what we want and need before we even ask. He pursues a love relationship with Him because He loves us. He wants us to ask Him for the desires of our heart to have a close relationship with Him because more than anything else, He wants us to have an intimate relationship with Him, that’s why He made us.
gagirllive on October 20, 2016 at 8:03 am
Why pray? Because we have been given the spirit of adoption whereby we can now cry, “Abba, Father!” Because our Great High Priest has made it possible for us to approach His throne with boldness and confidence, trusting that we will find Him gracious and merciful to help us in our time of need. Because all the promises of God find their “yes” and “amen” in Christ Jesus our Lord! For these and so many more reasons, we have the wonderful privilege of having God’s ear. We are children of God. He is our Father. We belong to Him. We talk about everything. And we trust that He will always do whatever is for our good and His glory…even when the answer is “No”. One day we may very well discover that His denials were His best gifts to us. Thanks for this, Mike. Grace and peace to all.
envirotact on October 20, 2016 at 9:37 am
Please Lord….dental care for my husband and a husband for our girl.
sandy229 on October 20, 2016 at 11:18 am
If nothing happens when we pray, the problem is not with God. God looks beyond our actions and thoughts, directly to our hearts. If we adhere to what He requires, He will lead us to pray for things according to His will, and His purposes. Prayer doesn’t give us spiritual power, rather it aligns our life with God so that He can demonstrate His power through us. Prayer is designed to adjust us to God’s Will, not to adjust God to our will.
sim jing ying on October 20, 2016 at 12:34 pm
That is true, we might ask something that we didn’t see as a harm for us and maybe that is why God disallows it.
sandy229 on October 21, 2016 at 12:25 pm
Yes, God wants the best for us always.
sim jing ying on October 20, 2016 at 12:54 pm
For today, I want to ask for God’s continuous strength in my health and also a time to sleep early every night. It is important to ask Him for what I want as that is when you are conscious of what you are asking is in God’s line and improve your walk with God.
Regina Franklin on October 20, 2016 at 9:40 pm
Mike–you make a powerful statement when you write, “He’s devised a way for us to find out voice.” As a parent who wants my children to find their voices, I am struck by that line. Yes God knows everything and does not need my words, but He wants to hear me. He wants me to discover my complete identity–my needs, desires and expressions–in relationship with Him.
sandy229 on October 21, 2016 at 12:11 pm
I love this song by Darlene Joyce Zschech ( /dɑrˈliːn ˈtʃɛk/; born Steinhardt on 8 September 1965 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) is an Australian Pentecostal Christian worship leader and singer-songwriter who primarily writes praise and worship songs. She is the former worship pastor of Hillsong Church and is currently a member of Compassionart, a charity founded by Martin Smith.
My Jesus, my Saviour
Lord there is none like You
All of my days I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love
My comfort, my shelter
Tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath, all that I am
Never cease to worship You
Shout to the Lord all the Earth, let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name
I sing for joy at the work of Your hand
Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have
In You
My Jesus, my Saviour
Lord there is none like You
All of my days I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love
You’re my comfort
(My comfort)
And my shelter
(My shelter)
You’re my tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath, all that I am
Never cease to worship You
Shout to the Lord all the Earth, let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name
I sing for joy at the work of Your hand
Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have
In You
Oh shout to the Lord all the Earth, let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name
I sing for joy at the work of Your hand
Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have
In You