Unlocking the Power of Prayer: The Conditions of 'Ask and You Shall Receive'

Discover the truth behind the promise of ask and you shall receive. Learn the conditions that come with this promise and how to approach God's answered prayer.

As believers, we have been admonished to "ask and it shall be given unto us" (Matthew 7:7) - a promise that has been echoed throughout the Bible. But is this promise true? Does God really give us everything we ask for?

There are many misconceptions about this promise. Some believe that it means that we can ask for anything, regardless of whether it's in line with God's will or not, and God will give it to us. Others believe that it means that we will get what we want, when we want it, and how we want it.

However, a closer look at the Bible reveals that this promise is not a blank check, but rather, it comes with conditions. Let's explore what these conditions are, and how we can approach God's promise of answered prayer.

The Conditions of "Ask and You Shall Receive"

The first condition of this promise is found in the preceding verse: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened" (Matthew 7:7-8).

This passage shows us that we must not only ask, but also seek and knock. In other words, we must put in effort and diligence. We can't just sit back and expect God to do everything for us. We must actively seek His will and His guidance.

The second condition is found in 1 John 5:14-15: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him."

This passage shows us that we must ask according to God's will. We can't just ask for anything we want, regardless of whether it's in line with God's plan for our lives. We must ask for things that align with His will and purpose.

The third condition is found in James 4:3: "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

This passage shows us that we must ask with the right motives. We can't just ask for things to satisfy our own selfish desires. We must ask for things that will honor God and serve His purposes.

The fourth condition is found in Mark 11:24: "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

This passage shows us that we must have faith. We can't just ask for things and doubt that God will answer our prayers. We must have faith that He will give us what we need, when we need it.

Putting It Into Practice

So how do we put these conditions into practice? First, we must seek God's will in prayer. We must ask Him to reveal His plan for our lives, and to guide us in all that we do.

Second, we must align our prayers with God's will. We must ask for things that honor Him and serve His purposes, rather than just asking for things to satisfy our own desires.

Third, we must have faith that God will answer our prayers. We must trust in His goodness and His faithfulness, even when we don't see the answers right away.

Examples from Scripture

Throughout the Bible, we see examples of people who prayed according to God's will, and who had faith that He would answer their prayers.

One example is the prayer of Jabez, found in 1 Chronicles 4:10: "Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.' And God granted his request."

Jabez's prayer was in line with God's will, and he had faith that God would answer him. And God did answer him, by blessing him and enlarging his territory.

Another example is the prayer of Hannah, found in 1 Samuel 1:10-11: "In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, 'Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.'"

Hannah's prayer was in line with God's will, and she had faith that God would answer her. And God did answer her, by giving her a son, Samuel, who went on to become a great prophet.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the promise of "ask and you shall receive" is not a blank check, but rather, it comes with conditions. We must seek God's will, align our prayers with His will, have faith, and ask with the right motives.

When we approach God's promise of answered prayer in this way, we can have confidence that He will give us what we need, when we need it, and in the way that He sees fit.

FAQs

1. Can we ask for anything in prayer?
No, we can't ask for anything in prayer. We must ask for things that align with God's will and purpose.

2. How do we know if our prayers align with God's will?
We can know if our prayers align with God's will by seeking His guidance and reading His Word.

3. What should we do when our prayers are not answered?
We should continue to trust in God's goodness and faithfulness, and ask Him to reveal His will to us.

4. How can we increase our faith in prayer?
We can increase our faith in prayer by reading God's Word, praying regularly, and seeing how God has answered our prayers in the past.

5. Can we pray for material possessions?
Yes, we can pray for material possessions, as long as they align with God's will and serve His purposes.