Ask and You Shall Receive

Luke 11:2-4
Our Father in Heaven, hallowed by your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Luke 11:9-10
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened.

The Bible tells us in Luke chapter eleven that one time when Jesus was praying, his disciples were standing nearby listening and they said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." So Jesus taught them the prayer that we often refer to as the Lord's Prayer:

"Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

Jesus went on to say to the disciples, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'."

In verses 9-10 Jesus said to them, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened."

Then he talked to the disciples about a father. He said, "If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

I don't know if you have recently remembered that God longs to give His children good gifts. He longs to be there for you. He longs to provide support and encouragement, finances, strength, energy and healing. These are good gifts that He wants to give to you.

James 4:3 says, "You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." If we will pray according to God's will, He will give us what we ask. I encourage you to pray asking for God's will, saying, "You give me that good and perfect gift, that which is good and right for me, even though I might not know what that is. I am asking You to give that to me." You can be sure He will do that because God, our Heavenly Father, longs to give us good gifts.

As you pray, perhaps even pray the Lord's Prayer, seeking day by day that your needs be met, and seeking forgiveness of sins. God, the Heavenly Father, longs to give you good gifts, and wants to bless your heart out of the abundance of His love. Be assured He is listening, and He wants to answer.

By Dr. Ann Shorb

Find out more about Christian counseling.

Related Articles and Devotionals:
The Best Way to Pray
Talking to a Friend
The Wireless Connection
Can I Pray for Myself?
Why Didn't God Answer Our Prayer?
The Little Green Dress

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