Ask God!

 “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” (Col. 4:2 ESV)

The Bible has a lot to say about why you do or don’t receive what you ask God for when you pray. 

How to NOT get what you ask God for

• You don’t ask

“Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:24 ESV)

• You don’t ask according to God’s will

“…saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.” (Jesus: Luke 22:42-44

• You ask selfishly

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (James 4:13 ESV)

• You don’t ask in faith

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:5-8 ESV)

• You don’t persevere

“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” (Eph. 6:18 ESV)

How to GET what you ask God for

• You ask boldly

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Heb. 4:16 NLT)

• You ask in Jesus’s Name

“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14 ESV)

• You ask according to God’s will

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15 NIV)

• You ask to bring glory to God

“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 24:13 ESV)

• You ask in faith believing

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matt. 21:22 ESV)

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24 ESV)

• You abide in Jesus and His Words

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7 ESV)

• You ask in agreement

“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” (Matt. 18:19 ESV)