THE BENEFITS OF ASKING

 

In many cases, when there’s a need, asking is a prerequisite for receiving. Quite often though, we receive without asking because of the generosity and kindness of others. What they give us could be something we desperately need, might need, or even not have a need for. On the other hand, if we have a specific need, don’t wait, hoping that someone might give it to us.  Just ask.

This principle works in our relationship with God as well. We receive many things without asking for them; God blesses so much, whether or not we have a personal relationship with Him. For instance, He tells us, “He [God] gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike” (Matthew 5:45). And amazingly, because He is just, He vindicates us when we are wronged, whether or not we ask Him.

God, being our Creator and Lord, loves to meet our needs, sometimes before we even know we have them. For instance, when Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden, they didn’t repent and seek God’s forgiveness for themselves and their descendants, but “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him might not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).     

There are other things He gives solely to us because we’ve become His children by placing faith in Him. First and foremost, He gives us the Holy Spirit as a seal and proof of ownership: “When you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people” (Ephesians 1:13-14). 

But in addition to all that He gives us, He encourages us to ask, and ask insistently. And when we ask, He answers our prayers. Asking shows our dependence on Him; it also shows we trust His promises and believe in His love and faithfulness. Asking also prevents us from being proud of our achievements when our prayers are answered, leading us to give Him the glory, and letting others know the source of our victories and successes—God. Here are some of the promises we can dwell on when we pray:

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking and you’ll find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).

“If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more would your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him” (Matthew 7:11).

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Philippians 4:6).

“You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure” (James 4:2-3).

So, knowing that God encourages us to ask, let’s not be afraid to ask Him for things we need for ourselves and others, but let’s ask in faith, knowing that He who promised is faithful and will answer us: “The LORD always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does” (Psalm 145:6), “He [the Lord] keeps every promise forever” (Psalm 146:6).

Of course, some conditions hinder our prayers, like unconfessed sins and lack of faith. The psalmist stated with certainty: “If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened!” (Psalm 66:18). Two blind men once asked Jesus for healing; Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?” The two claimed they believed; Jesus touched their eyes and said to them, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” (Matthew 9:27-30). And it did; their eyes were opened, and they could see.

We also need to be kind and generous with others; God doesn’t give to us so we can hoard. We need to understand that we are stewards of whatever He entrusts to us; the more we share, the more He entrusts to our care: “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back” (Luke 6:38). Of course, receiving back should not be the reason we give; it should be because it is the right thing to do.

And as we ask for our needs to be met, let’s not forget to pray for the most important need—the salvation for our unsaved family members and friends. God desires to adopt all of them into His family through faith in His Son, Jesus! Keep asking!