January 17, 2022
Prayer Involves Asking
Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Provision
The Father knows that His sons and daughters have needs. Some needs are physical, some emotional, and some spiritual. We are needy people, and that’s okay! The Father loves to respond to the hearts of His children when they come to Him humbly and desperately. Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread…” (Matt 6:11). At the Father’s table, He has prepared for all of us more than enough to provide. You are invited to pull up a chair and to seek His provision.
Matthew 7:7–11 (ESV) — 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
John 14:13 (ESV) — 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 15:7 (ESV) — 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
God is ready to respond to our requests, if our requests are aligned with who He is and what He wants. God has no issue with giving that which is already in His heart to give. The question is, do you know His heart well enough to ask for those things? Jesus hinted at this when he said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33). “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do…” (John 14:13). The renovated heart asks God for what’s in line with His character and kingdom, and as you do, you may not get everything you want, but you will have everything you need, and often more. He is available and ready to give you what you need to flourish in his kingdom if you’re humble enough to ask.
Consider:
Prayer Points:
Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Provision
The Father knows that His sons and daughters have needs. Some needs are physical, some emotional, and some spiritual. We are needy people, and that’s okay! The Father loves to respond to the hearts of His children when they come to Him humbly and desperately. Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread…” (Matt 6:11). At the Father’s table, He has prepared for all of us more than enough to provide. You are invited to pull up a chair and to seek His provision.
Matthew 7:7–11 (ESV) — 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
John 14:13 (ESV) — 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 15:7 (ESV) — 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
God is ready to respond to our requests, if our requests are aligned with who He is and what He wants. God has no issue with giving that which is already in His heart to give. The question is, do you know His heart well enough to ask for those things? Jesus hinted at this when he said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33). “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do…” (John 14:13). The renovated heart asks God for what’s in line with His character and kingdom, and as you do, you may not get everything you want, but you will have everything you need, and often more. He is available and ready to give you what you need to flourish in his kingdom if you’re humble enough to ask.
Consider:
- When bringing your requests before God, try focusing more on God’s nature and not as much on your request.
- How can your request bring glory to the Father?
Prayer Points:
- Spend a few minutes in silence and solitude before the Lord. Listen to what the Spirit urges you to ask the Father in Jesus’ name, then present your request to God.
Posted in 2022 Prayer and Fasting