When I Ask

Dear Jesus,

You are amazing. Not only do You give me what I need, but You bless me with so much more than I ask for.
In the book of Matthew, You said,

Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! — Matthew 7:9-11

That means when I ask You for something, You already know whether or not it will be good for me. And if I ask wrongly, You will not give me something that will harm me. You have only good planned for me, and the things You give me will be blessings in my life. But teach me, Lord, to look beyond earthly things for Your blessings; teach me to see the spiritual blessings that come through difficulties and struggles as well.

Jesus, remind me not to limit You by asking only for what I need, but to pray big and with confidence. And always, Lord, help me remember to pray that Your will be done. If I ask in faith and trust in Your goodness, I know that You will bless me with exactly what I need and in ways greater than I ever imagined.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. — Ephesians 3:20

Could it be that you expect too little from God? Think carefully about what you want, and don’t be afraid to pray for something big. Ask God to take your request and refine it according to His will and what He knows is good for you. Then expect Him not only to answer, but also to exceed your expectations. What requests do you have for God? Are they big and bold? Are they for the things of this world or for the eternal things of God?

Excerpted with permission from Jesus I Need You, copyright Zondervan.

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Your Turn

This Christmas season we can ask for physical gifts, of course, but what do you want from the Lord? What are you asking Him for? Let’s pray confidently and for big things! Come share with us on our blog. We want to hear your bold requests! ~ Laurie McClure, Faith.Full