Question: Will God do anything for Christians when they pray?
Answer:
“For everyone who asks receives…What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a rock? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a snake? If you, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:8-11
These were words that Jesus Himself spoke. So, why hasn’t He given you everything you have prayed for? The Bible also has that answer:
“You ask and do not receive because you ask for wrong things and with the wrong motives so that you may spend it on pleasures.” James 4:3
You may be wondering, are there magic words that must be spoken in order to get God to automatically grant my requests? No. Will God do what I ask if I just have enough faith? No.
Instead of expecting God to send what YOU have decided that you need, perhaps you should pray as Jesus did. He demonstrated to His disciples that the right way to ask God the Father for anything is in His model of what we call “The Lord’s Prayer”:
“…that your kingdom would come and your will would be done on earth, like it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10
God is not like a vending machine which releases whatever item you select. The Bible explains that God doesn’t do everything you ask because sometimes you ask for what will only benefit you. God only allows you what He knows will help you and, many times, what will benefit others, too. Amazing, He can see your entire future and has a plan for your life. He will guide all circumstances to fully accomplish His goals for you when you are a Christian. Keep in mind that God does this for His children, those who have accepted Jesus as His Son, who came into the world to save men and women. Are you a follower of Jesus, a Christian?
“And we know that God works all things together for good for those who love Him and have been called to accomplish HIS purposes.” Romans 8:28
If your prayer has not been answered – yet – maybe the answer is no. Or, at least not right now. Don’t become discouraged and think that God doesn’t hear you or care. He must have a different and even better plan ahead for you! God waits until the time is just exactly right to give you His very best BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU SO MUCH!
Keep praying and watching for the answer God will show you. Be ready for a much better resolution than you had even hoped for!
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” The apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:20
Are you unsure whether you have ever asked Jesus to come into your life and lead you? Are you discouraged that you have prayed and not received God’s answer? Pray, which means to talk about this with God:
Dear God,
I know that Jesus is your son who died on a cross to take the punishment for my sins. I admit that I have sinned against you all of my life, and I understand that you now look upon me as forgiven. Thank you for loving me and assuring me you will welcome me into your awesome, magnificent presence when I die and arrive in heaven. What a huge gift from you and a relief to know I have such a happy future! I want you to show me how to follow your teachings each day that you’ve preserved for me in the Bible so I can learn more about Jesus’ example and guidance. I just can’t thank you enough for your Holy Spirit’s presence with me every day, walking with me through every single situation that will happen in my life.
Amen!
